Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi

I have just fitted brand new drums and shoes to the front of my car, which I purchased from bull motif. The brakes work superbly but are screeching like I don't know what! I have filed the leading edge and roughed up the inner of the drum, but it's still their with avengeance. Do you think this is something that will sort itself out once bedded in? ( only done about 5 miles on the new brakes as the noise is rediclious and embarrassing ) or is their something's else I can do?

Thank you

As you've already filed the leading edges I'd take it for a good run with lots and lots of hills (is Staffordshire hilly?) at least 20 miles, and see if it gets any better.

The shoes won't have done anything over five miles. It takes at least 100 miles of normal driving in my opinion to bed new shoes in.

Tom

There are plenty of hills in Staffordshire I will give it a good run the weekend and see if things improve. Fair comment about 5 miles doing nothing to the shoes, the 5 miles I did do was pretty much driving and slamming them on but a run out it is.

Cheers

I would run them hard till they 'fade' - and then let them cool. May help! I think there is a tip in the Manual about modifying shoes to eliminate squeal. I assume it only squeals when you apply the brakes - not all the time? If all the time - are the springs fitted right way round - not rubbing on the hub...?

Hi BMC

Yes they only squeal when braking, if you brake excessive from a great speed the noise seems to stop briefly, but comes back soon as you brake again.

Can only suggest you 'fade' them - and see if that helps... Failing that - angled shallow cross cuts on the lining surface perhaps?

Some shoes used to have those angled grooves machined in from new. To be honest the shoes don't look 'great quality' when I removed the drum to inspect what's making the noise, only the leading and trailing edges were actually touching the drum. That's why I emery papered them. The linings was almost 'wavy' on the top, some serious fade coming my way.

Had the same problem on my Series MM, a drive from Reading to Ilfracombe towing the trailer did nothing to cure it. In the end I swappped the front brake shoes over which for some reason cured the problem

Fit the old drums - and if that cures it - send the new ones back for refund.

My new drums squeal badly as well (From ESM though, but probably the same manufacture).

Have you put copperslip when the shoes slot into the cylinders and where they touch against the backplate? Obviously not on the friction material before someone says it!

Have you fitted the bee-hive springs..... ?

only on rears

My front drums don't have bee hive springs fitted and have never squealed so I wouldn't necessarily see that as the cause of your problem

It was a tongue-in-cheek suggestion......that perhaps fitting these would make them squeal!