Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi All.
How do I free the rear cylinder from the backplate/hub? It’s some years since I owned my last Morris and I can’t remember how it clears the hub.
I’ve removed the bleed nipple assembly.
Probably a job I should have left for the moment while I’ve got such restricted movement!
Thanks for your help.
Alan

You will find it easier if you pull out the half-shaft to give a bit more clearance.
Uncouple the handbrake cable, remove the feed pipe, the bleed nipple adapter union and the rubber cover from the rear of the backplate/cylinder.
Push the cylinder down to the bottom of the slot and the cylinder should be able to be removed by tilting and slipping the cylinder through the backplate slot.

Thanks Phil.
I’d forgotten how tight these are! Thankfully, the front wheel cylinders don’t need to come off.
Alan

It is possible to remove the cylinder without releasing the half-shaft, but it often takes a lot of wiggling around and a little judicious persuasion with a suitable hammer!

If you have to use a hammer you have failed. The alloy body of the cylinder should not be subject to impact.

The half shaft only needs to be moved out about 1/2", job done in 30 seconds.
So long as the car is on a level surface, the height of it being jacked up should keep all the oil in the axle.
My drive slopes to the side about 10 degrees, when I did my brakes I forgot this and ended up with oil running out the lower side....

The sealing of the half-shaft gasket when pulling out the half-shaft by 1/2" and pushing it back in is helped if the gasket is greased before fitting.
A disturbed dry gasket once pulled apart can leak.
Greasing the gasket helps keep it supple over time and allows for the dismantling and assembly several times without problem.

philthehill wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2024 9:29 am If you have to use a hammer you have failed. The alloy body of the cylinder should not be subject to impact.

I did say 'judicious' use of a hammer, I wasn't suggesting you should thump it mercilessly. Last time I replaced rear wheel cylinders, a couple of years ago, one came out and in with merely wiggling, the other needed some gentle persuasion. All good since.

Funnily enough the new cylinder slotted in fine. Clearly a slight casting variation vs the old one.