Morris Minor Owners Club

Spring of last year my 2 door developed a bad shudder through the steering wheel when braking ( more so when braking downhill over 30 mph) and also pulling to left. So during the summer I bought new front wheel cylinders, shoes and at the national bought new front drums of a very well known minor specialist. When I returned home I fitted them and adjusted correctly. The new cylinders and shoes sorted out the pulling to the left, but the brake shudder was worse than ever. So with one thing or another I thought I would leave it for a while and let everything bed in. So about 2 weeks ago I decided to pull the front drums of again and check the wheel cylinders and shoes where all correctly fitted, which they where. Whilst I had removed the drums i took them to a local engineering shop that I know, to check them for distortion. When I picked them up later that day he told me they where slightly distorted. I then fitted them and adjusted everything correctly as before. Road tested car today as it's the first dry one and brakes near enough perfect. Braking downhill from 50 mph and not a shuddering steering wheel in sight. Just regret not getting the original drums skimmed and saving £45.

Thanks for posting this.

Could be a valuable lesson for anyone looking to buy new drums.

Yes, thankyou. I had been planning to buy new drums after my MOT guy said one was out of true
but was worried by previous doubts expressed by others so I too will be visiting a machine shop
instead.

It's possible/probable that the new castings are still 'green' when machined and hence liable to movement, a good plan getting originals skimmed if within limits. Castings used to be stored outside for months/years before machining, to let them weather.

All I have to say is, Andrew Im shocked that you were doing 50mph!!!!!!!

Ha ha, my sides are splitting !! I'll do 50 but not anymore