Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi all,

I'm looking to renew the brakes on the lowlight and I'm shocked, Pattern wheel cylinders are about £36 each once you've included Vat and I'm sure they'll only last 5 minutes like other pattern front cylinders, is there a cheaper alternative ? or is it possible to put new seals in them ?

Cheers,

Will

My early Series II has MM running gear I got all new cylinders for my car when redoing the brakes and they were very good quality. My feeling is you don't scrimp and save on brakes - they're too important

Can you not fit later backplates and cylinders?

Agreed! Where did you get your cylinders from?

I Don't know BMC, it would be a sensible solution but I don't know what mods are required...

I'll be looking this week to see what is/ isn't serviceable, she's been off the road 17 years so I'm expecting the worst.

Cheers,

Will

The early front cylinders have different backplates ( with a circular hole, not a rectangular one) and the thread from the hoses is different also. There is a brass fitting which takes the pipe that joins the two cylinders together, all in all it is quite a different setup. My new cylinders were from ESM and were very good quality.

Surely club spares will have these parts for a lowlight?

As BMC says, you can fit the later back plates. Which means the 7 inch front back-plates, not the 8 inch ones. We had a series 2, with the solid drum/hub combo and did the same conversion (still retaining the original hubs and drums).
As said, I think it was just the front plates. Club website?

I did this conversion to mine a few years ago, ESM used to sell a conversion kit containing everything needed - can't find it on their website though.

Rog

Thanks chaps, that gives me plenty of food for thought, I'll have a look at the cylinders and report back, if there not too bad I may just reseal, but the master cylinder and rubber hoses will be replaced .

I'll keep you posted.

Cheers,

Will

Bull Motif had replacement Series MM cylinders at a reasonable price, I do not know if they are still available.
You can change the complete assembly for 803/948 front brakes and retain the original drums.

Hi Mike,

Do have any more information on the conversion ? does it require any modifications other than some unbolting and spannerwork ?

Cheers,

Will

I am assured that you simply replace the back plates c/w wheel cylinders and probably return springs.

Should be a straight swop - some say perhaps a different flexi pipe required? I would do it - you can always swop back in the future if you want the car to retain it's originality......

Thanks Chaps,

I'll probably do whatever is most cost effective, if the cylinders I've got are shot I'll replace with the later ones, but if they seem okay I'll just reseal them .

Cheers,

Will

Took the front hub apart today, wheel cylinders seized solid, and the brake pedal stuck down, suggesting that the M/C has seized me thinks its time for a total brake overhaul, so it'll be later cylinders all round with a new M/C and probably new brake pipes

I can feel my wallet hurting already...

I'm sure if you ask on here - there must be plenty of 7" front backplates knocking around, where folks have upgraded to later 8" drums - or perhaps even to the rather better 9" Wolseley drums !!!