Morris Minor Owners Club

My car failed the MOT as the rear offside brake was hardly registering anything on the brake test. The foot barke was 10 and the handbrake zero.

I had the same problem last year and replaced the adjuster and it then seemed okay.

Has anyone any ideas what the problem could be. The cylinder was new last year and the brakes overhauled. I can't think what else could cause both foot and handbrake to not be working.

any help appreciated

Mike

rear brakes... have you taken the drum off at all?

IF not, it might be that the seal has gone, causing the Diff oil to seap into the drum.

Oil+shoes= no braking

I have had the drum off and there is no sign of oil and the shoes look okay. The cylinders and shoes were all overhauled last year.

no handbrake either is there?

Very weird, how is the drum on the inside?

Were the brakepipes also renewed? I had a slightly squashed brake pipe when I first got my mog.

Yes new brake pipes were fitted as well. But that shouldn't stop the handbrake should it?

no, that shouldn't affect it at all. So it is either severe contamination, or a duff cylinder (even new ones go wrong sometimes)

In case of the handbrake, have a good look at the cable too, it might have rusted solid to the outer.

I'll look at the cable but the cables were replaced as well!!

I'll do some further checks in the morning if there is no snoww

Thanks

Have you removed the backplates at anytime??

The whole car under went a full rebuild and I think the backplates may have been removed as the axle was takenoff the car. Why, could it be significant?

Mike

The symptoms seem to point to a wheel cylinder problem, certainly. Is the cylinder free to slide in the slot it lives in? (NB guessing )

plg422d wrote:The whole car under went a full rebuild and I think the backplates may have been removed as the axle was takenoff the car. Why, could it be significant?

Mike

Its not unknown for them to have been taken off and replace on the wrong side.

Norrie

I don't understand what the implications are of them being fitted the wrong way round? If they were fitted the wrong way why would one side work and the other not???

Confused of Morrisland....

Just a suggestion thats worth checking out when you are looking around for the problem.....believe me, some people have done this...resulting in terrible braking...I know of one friend that done it, after a total rebuild he just could not for the life of him understand why his brakes where not working as they should, and only after trying everything else did he then realize what had gone wrong. also, I know you say that the cylinders have been renewed.....however, as its already been said, its not unknown for even a new cylinder to let you down. Maybe you have already checked that the cylinder is moving......have you done the simple test of having someone press the pedal as you spin the wheel ???? just to see if there is indeed a brake on that side....also check to see if the handbrake is biting. Check also the handbrake cable adjustment...maybe too much slack there.....even re bleeding that side to see if any air comes out of that cylinder...suggestion.

Almost certainly the cylinder is completly seized. But it could be some effect of a wrongly adjusted handbrake cable (although I don't see how). I would first disconnect the cable - and then have someone press the brake pedal (gently!) while you watch for any movement. If the cylinder is really only a year old - you may be able to save it - but if you need the car up and running quickly I would get a cylinder ordered anyay, and worry about the old one after the new one has been fitted.

I too think its a cylinder problem. plg; how is the brake fluid level. Have you already checked? I think you will have to go through it systematically.

Take off the wheel and drum. Slacken the hand brake cable. See if you can move the cylinder by hand (try to slide it in both directions). If it is free, then get somebody to gently push on the brake pedal, with the drum still off, and see if the cylinder is moving the shoes.

Stripped off the brake drum.

Handbrake is moving both sides.

Footbrake is moving the same amounts both sides

Adjusted up and they seem okay... but.... after a few tries the offside stops working as well as the near side. The adjuster hasn't moved or slipped

I'm getting confused...
So cylinder is moving

Any thoughts.... my hair is going grey over this!!!

If both rears stop working at the same time but the fronts are still working, it sounds like a blockage in the hydraulic pipe between the master cylinder and the splitter on the rear axle. I'd start by examining the rear flexihose.

Hi

Its only the offside rear that isn't working according to the MOT garage??

But you said, "after a few tries the offside stops working as well as the near side."