Rear brake issues

[impish63]

Hi all, just helped my neighbours acquire a lovely lowlight 1949 saloon. They don’t do the internet or forums so posting this query on their behalf. We have the car back but the brakes are appalling. Being an imp owner I am used to cars with drums all round and know that these systems can work more than satisfactorily. Upon my neighbour stripping the rear brakes he noticed seized rear wheel cylinders and shoes that although glazed had virtually no wear on them. He had new shoes which were identical to the ones fitted to the car. He ordered new cylinders, springs and pipes etc and completely renewed the rear brakes and bled them. Even upon full adjustment of the snail cam, neither side brakes barely acted upon the drums. Upon speaking to the specialist who supplied the parts he suggested the shoes were the wrong ones, strange as they were identical to the ones that were on the car? He supplied new shoes and my neighbour fitted these and I took all the slack out the handbrake cables. He now has working brakes but….. the snail cam adjusters only have around four spare clicks left to full adjustment and two of the fronts are already on full adjustment? The rear drums look to have been previously skimmed but are according to the workshop manual within tolerances. It is almost as if the shoe linings need to be 1of 2mm thicker to be closer to the drums? Anyone had a similar experience and know how to correct the issue?

[ManyMinors]

I did have a similar problem on my Minor 1000 a while ago after fitting new rear shoes. I got around it by welding a small strip of steel onto the base of the adjuster.

[King Kenny]

I too have had this problem with my 1969 Traveller. Luckily I was working as a welder and was able to add more material to the adjusters.

[svenedin]

3 people reporting this problem. Two Minor 1000 and an MM. Is this something to do with the shoes or pattern cylinders or both? I fitted new cylinders (genuine) and shoes (Ferodo) at the rear and had no issues on my Minor 1000.

Stephen

[philthehill]

You could try these oversize snail cam adjusters.
https://www.morrisminorspares.com/brake ... s-p1238194

[impish63]

Thanks all, ESM supplied the correct shoes and the other bits. Good to know he does oversize snail cams as well. As an aside my neighbour said the new shoe retaining springs were impossible to fit. Someone had cut down the last ones and even using these he said it was a nightmare fitting them.

[svenedin]

There was a recent thread about this issue.

viewtopic.php?p=690419&hilit=rear+brake+shoes#p690419

[impish63]

I am new to the forum so wasn’t aware of the previous thread. So are the brakes on my neighbours 49MM lowlight different to later moggies or are the parts interchangeable from the various models?

[svenedin]

My car is a late 1000 and I have no real experience of the MM's so we must wait for the MM experts. The drums are the same size as later cars and the shoes are the same but the cylinders are 7/8" bore on early cars whereas 3/4" on later models.

I think the issue (since it is affecting early and late cars) is the brake shoes. If you can get Ferodo or Mintex rear shoes these fit perfectly but unfortunately they are no longer made. I have more than one set and when a set is worn out I will get them relined and then I know they will fit. It sounds like the brakes were not working in your neighbour's MM which is why there was no wear on the shoes. Perhaps de-glaze the old shoes and see if the fit? Very subtle differences in shoes lead them to not fit. Be aware that old shoes of unknown age may contain asbestos so wear an appropriate face mask and do not blow the dust out (damp it down and wipe it off). The NOS Ferodo shoes I have do have an asbestos warning on the box. Hunt around on eBay and at auto jumbles.

Stephen

[impish63]

Thanks Stephen, I reckon when the car was restored he fitted the Borg and Beck shoes and as such the brakes never worked properly. How he drove the car safely is another matter… Now we have fitted different shoes supplied by ESM the brakes work but don’t have much adjustment left on them. Probably best to keep an eye out for NOS Mintex or Ferodo shoes as recommended.

[impish63]

There is a set of Ferodo rear shoes for sale but they advice 1957 to 1971 MM 1000. From reading the replies above am I correct in saying these will fit a 49 lowlight before paying a decent price for them?