Morris Minor Owners Club

Hello, my car just passed its first mot, which is great. However i'm having a bit of bother with the marina discs. The thread where the four bolts clamp the hub to the disc has been stripped, which means that i should really get new discs, rather than re-tapping the thread. I need to know which cars the marina discs were carried over to as they are prooving difficult to find unless anyone knows where i can get some. I was thinking on the lines of austin allegro, maxi, possibly even old metro any thoughts would be great. Thanks, Ben.

Most Motor Factors sell Marina discs - around £13 each last time I asked (1 month ago)

Charlie Ware's in Bath if you get stuck... they sell the whole kit/all the bits. Just noticed you're in Bristol - see you at the next club meet?

PO - which Motor factor did you ask ?

D and A motor factors in Dundee Tel 01382 228202, should be in stock.

I recently replaced my discs for the MOT. I think they came from Camberley Auto Factors (which are all over the place, not just Camberley). Another option would be
www.carparts-direct.co.uk/parts_for_older_cars.html

A word of warning though: The offset of the new discs wasn't exactly the same as the old ones. I had to shim the caliper by about half a mm to stop the disc rubbing on the caliper body. Worth checking new against old before you fit them.

Been looking at ESM, thinking about buying a servo kit. They claim that fitting the servo to standard brakes improves stopping power, is this true?
Also, if anybody's fitted a servo kit, how long did it take, and is there a connection made to the master cylindar?
In short, is it a fiddly/difficult job?
Maybe fitting a servo would be good enough on the Mog without having to fit calipers as well?
Thanks folks.

Fitting a servo just makes the pedal easier to press. It does not improve your braking at all. However, if you don't usually press your brake pedal down very hard then it will push for you so you might 'feel' that the braking has increased but the drums will still heat up and fade just the same with as without. The only difference being that with the servo they might heat up sooner as more brake pressure is applied.......

It's a personal thing really. I don't like them myself as it makes the pedal softer but there are plenty of folks that do like them.

Servo is connected to M/C, then output of servo to a T piece leading to front and rear T pieces. It's DIYable, as long as you're confident about working on the brakes, but pretty fiddly to connect to M/C, and altering the M/C to suit - removing a washer from inside - just thought, that's only if you're fitting discs...
I've never tried one with drums so can't advise, and I'd leave a good day, maybe two to do it - I'm sure a garage/decent mechanic would be quicker, but I'm slooow!

If you have a very strong leg, then a servo adds nothing to drums. If you aren't
Arnie Scwarzeniger then it may be useful, but as mentioned it reduces the pedal effort (ie more braking power for the same effort), but doesn't increase the overall braking capability.

I've heard very positive comments from people who fitted one with drums, and I was considering doing one a few years ago for the girlfriend but never needed to in the end so have no personal experience of using one (mine has sat under my desk at work for 3 years so I have plenty of experience of kicking one)

Servo is just a waste of money/time. Does NOT improve the brakes - just push harder for the same effect. If you can't lock all four wheels with a hefty push then there is something wrong with the brakes !

If you can't lock all four wheels with a hefty push then there is something wrong with the brakes

If it gets to the point that you are locking the wheels when braking then maybe stamping on the pedals is something that should be avoided!
Controllable, useable, safe, efficient brakes are those that don't need drastic force. If that is difficult for you to achieve with a standard set-up then a servo would be a good option.
Do not be led to believe that disc brakes on thier own will help. I have driven a non-servo assisted disc braked car and believe me they can be hard work on the legs!

I have driven a non-servo assisted disc braked car and believe me they can be hard work on the legs!

Yep, my 4-door car is like that. I prefer a hard pedal feel myself. The non-servo'd disc brake car should feel the same (on the legs) as a standard drum set-up.

I'm not suggesting you SHOULD lock the brakes - but if they are in good order then a hefty shove must be able to lock them up - or they are not right !!