Morris Minor Owners Club

Does this tiny bit of movement in the rear brakes look normal, or do you think the cylinder is seized or partially seized?

http://www.hogsmack.com/random/100_1683.MOV

Piston is not retracting fully, is the handbrake off?

hi I had to watch it three times to see the movement !

Yes, at first I thought nothing at all was happening also. So I take it there should be much more movement than that? The handbrake is disconnected.

Check that the handbrake lever on the back of the cylinder is moving freely.
Check that the cylinder is able to move up and down in the slot in the backplate
Try pushing the piston back, if that does not work
Open the bleed valve and push the piston back. Catch the fluid
If still no good replace the cylinder
Many people do not bother with the conical retaining springs.

Oops, looks like I had one of the brake shoes on the wrong way around. Fixed that. However, still there is very little movement. The lever moves freely, and the cylinder slides in the slot. Haven't tried taking the nipple off yet. Will I need to bleed them if I do that?

The conical / beehive springs drove me nuts at first, but then I sudden realized how to get them on and off. The bottom shoe has a different type of retaining spring that is bigger and rubbing on the hub, so I took it off. Since most people dispense with the beehive springs, I take it having one on the top, but nothing on the bottom is OK?

Just loosen the bleed nipple to relieve the pressure when you try to push the piston in. If you tighten the nipple straight away you will not have to bleed it, unless you change the cylinder

Seized handbrake piston...and throw the bee-hives over the hedge......

Thanks for all the help, guys. I've decided to just replace the cylinders. Hopefully will be able to get to it this weekend.

Probably best - then you know it's right.