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Rear brakes
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2026 7:57 am
by Nax
1971 minor J reg 1098 cc
Just checking my rear brakes, all looks as it should with recent new shoes and cylinders but there are no beehive springs fitted
is this normal for this late model or should I fit some?
Re: Rear brakes
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2026 8:03 am
by svenedin
For lots of arguments regarding beehive springs, whether they are essential or not, search this forum.
All Minors had rear brake beehive springs. It makes no difference if the car is a late one.
They are often left off because they can be annoying to fit and remove. Fitting them is recommended. A tool makes the job easier. It so happens that a tool designed for use on a modern car does the job perfectly:
viewtopic.php?p=714886&hilit=beehive+sp ... ol#p714886
Stephen
Re: Rear brakes
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2026 8:07 am
by Nax
Thanks I will get them ordered.
Re: Rear brakes
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2026 10:04 am
by Bill_qaz
You may find the springs from some suppliers the open leg of the hook is too long making fitting difficult/ stroke impossible if longer than the backplate appature. I struggled until realising the issue with new springs, shortening the leg by cutting a bit off with a hacksaw made fitting easy. See post for illustration of the issue.
viewtopic.php?p=713588&hilit=Beehive+Spring#p713588
Re: Rear brakes
Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2026 6:45 pm
by Nax
Thanks Bill, I will watch out for that.
I may have to change the half shaft seals, I left the wheel off over night and in the morning their was a pool of axle oil on the floor,
looks like the half shaft is only held in by the wheel and wheel nuts.
Re: Rear brakes
Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2026 7:00 pm
by svenedin
The half-shaft is held in by 1x screw (diagram part number 87) when the wheel and drum are off.
As you have a late Minor it should have the modified rear hubs that have both a half-shaft gasket and a rubber o-ring. It is very possible that the o-ring has perished so that oil now leaks when the wheel and drum are off but check the tightness of the screw in the half-shaft flange. If you are lucky all you need to do is tighten the screw. To tighten this type of screw I like to use a Draper impact screwdriver (the type you hit with a hammer) but not for impact, just because it has a chunky handle and the bits do not slip in the screw head. It is also an excellent tool for removing seized brake drum screws using the impact function.
Stephen
- Screenshot 2026-04-18 at 18.59.24.png (587.61 KiB) Viewed 2465 times
- IMG_1669.jpeg (1.55 MiB) Viewed 2460 times
Re: Rear brakes
Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2026 10:22 pm
by Bill_qaz
svenedin wrote: ↑Sat Apr 18, 2026 7:00 pm
The half-shaft is held in by 1x screw (diagram part number 87) when the wheel and drum are off.
As you have a late Minor it should have the modified rear hubs that have both a half-shaft gasket and a rubber o-ring. It is very possible that the o-ring has perished so that oil now leaks when the wheel and drum are off but check the tightness of the screw in the half-shaft flange. If you are lucky all you need to do is tighten the screw. To tighten this type of screw I like to use a Draper impact screwdriver (the type you hit with a hammer) but not for impact, just because it has a chunky handle and the bits do not slip in the screw head. It is also an excellent tool for removing seized brake drum screws using the impact function.
Stephen
Screenshot 2026-04-18 at 18.59.24.png
IMG_1669.jpeg
Stephen, you can also use the bits from the draper impact tool on standard 1/2 inch socket set, so you can use the bit on a T bar for example, to get good tightening torque without impacting.
Re: Rear brakes
Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2026 10:40 pm
by svenedin
Bill_qaz wrote: ↑Sat Apr 18, 2026 10:22 pm
svenedin wrote: ↑Sat Apr 18, 2026 7:00 pm
The half-shaft is held in by 1x screw (diagram part number 87) when the wheel and drum are off.
As you have a late Minor it should have the modified rear hubs that have both a half-shaft gasket and a rubber o-ring. It is very possible that the o-ring has perished so that oil now leaks when the wheel and drum are off but check the tightness of the screw in the half-shaft flange. If you are lucky all you need to do is tighten the screw. To tighten this type of screw I like to use a Draper impact screwdriver (the type you hit with a hammer) but not for impact, just because it has a chunky handle and the bits do not slip in the screw head. It is also an excellent tool for removing seized brake drum screws using the impact function.
Stephen
Screenshot 2026-04-18 at 18.59.24.png
IMG_1669.jpeg
Stephen, you can also use the bits from the draper impact tool on standard 1/2 inch socket set, so you can use the bit on a T bar for example, to get good tightening torque without impacting.
Thank you Bill. I didn't know that!
Stephen
Re: Rear brakes
Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2026 1:10 pm
by jaekl
The extra hole in the brake drum is used to further tighten the half shaft screw once the drum screws are tight now that the O-ring is more uniformly clamped. There is no need for excessive torque.
Re: Rear brakes
Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2026 3:08 pm
by svenedin
jaekl wrote: ↑Sun Apr 19, 2026 1:10 pm
The extra hole in the brake drum is used to further tighten the half shaft screw once the drum screws are tight now that the O-ring is more uniformly clamped. There is no need for excessive torque.
Yes very good point
Stephenn