Rear brake cylinders - can a beginner do theM?

Post by **steaky** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 6:25 pm

Hi guys and girls, i have bought a do all the brakes kit, and i'm bottling it. I have no experience with doing this sort of thing but i'll have a go. I have the tech tips manual, haynes manual. Are they good enough or is the british leyland manual better? Think its called that anyway. Could i realistically do the brakes or should i get in a pro?

Post by **bmcecosse** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 9:41 pm

Brakes on the Minor are easy - just watch that the rear cylinders have a different brake pipe thread to the fronts - for some daft reason lost in the mists of BMC ! Only tricky bit is if you have to change the master cylinder which is cunningly hidden away inside a chassis member. But otherwise they really could not be easier. haynes will be fine - and ask for help on here - plenty of willing advisors !!

Post by **dunketh** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 4:41 pm

Theoreticaly they're very easy to do, BUT...
The return springs holding the brake shoe assembly tight against the piston tend to be incredibly tough. You'll need three weetabix that morning!

And, on mine the brake pipes (they're solid pipes not flexi hose on the back) were siezed solid. The only way to get around this was to undo them at the other end where they meet at a T piece attached to the rear axle, then carefully straighten them and undo them turning the whole pipe along with the nut!

Other than those problems they're so simply and logicaly laid out you can't really go wrong. Btw, I removed the half-shafts when doing mine although a mate claims there should be adequate access without having to.

Post by **Vernon** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 5:23 pm

Make a note or drawing of how the return springs are attached to the brake shoes. It is easy to put them back the wrong way round.

Post by **andrewsxt** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 5:32 pm

You will be convinced the wheel cylinders won`t come past the hub but trust me they will, and the secret is a gentle tap with a hammer as has been said before on here.

Andy

Post by **Chris Morley** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 6:14 pm

The real problems come when you go to replace only one item (eg a rear cylinder) and you discover that you can't undo the t-section, or the brake pipe kinks, the pipe union nut gets rounded off or the bleed screw loses it's thread etc. Agreed the master cylinder is a pig of a job, but that's not normally included in a 'do all the brakes' kit. If it's not giving problems I would leave it well alone!

If you have all the components to hand (cylinders, brake pipes, flexi-houses, springs) and you have a decent set of spanners, pliars etc. then it's simply a case of replacing the old items with new. In that case it doesn't matter if you twist or cut the old pipes or give the old cylinders a good clout with a hammer - it's just like building a big mechano kit.

Make a note or drawing of how the return springs are attached to the brake shoes. It is easy to put them back the wrong way round.

Assuming of course that the last bloke to do it fitted them correctly!

Post by **guydenning** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 6:59 pm

I managed it - and my capacity for maroon-like car maintenance displays is LEGENDARY. I must admit though I did have replacements for everything - just in case. AND a digital camera, if you've got one, is a great tool for snapping everything at every opportunity prior to disassembly to avoid asking stoopid questions later. I now keep all these photos on the ol' pooter, just in case under-bonnet electrickery wires or whatever drop off unplanned. Almost organised me...