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Front Brakes on Rear ?

Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 11:48 pm
by PSL184
I will soon be fitting Wolseley front brakes to the Mog and as the original fronts are all new I was thinking of fitting them to the rear.... Anyone done this or forsee any pitfalls at all?

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 12:08 am
by alex_holden
How will you connect the handbrake cables to them?

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 12:12 am
by PSL184
Use standard rear cylinder as one of the rear cylinders?

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 10:33 am
by mike.perry
Do you mean you are fitting just the front shoes to the rear or the whole assembly?

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 10:49 am
by PSL184
The whole 8" front assembly to replace the rear 7"......

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 10:59 am
by alex_holden
Would probably be much easier to fit a set of Wolseley 1500 rear brakes if you can find a set.

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 11:17 am
by PSL184
Yes but finding them is the problem! I know someone who has a rear axle but I doubt they are selling it.... I won't mention any names, David :-)

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 11:52 am
by Rob_Jennings
is it worth it at all? with disc on the front where all the weight is then you really don't need a rear brake upgrade

I'd leave well alone and sell on the front set as they would be worth it to someone facing a rebuild

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 1:20 pm
by bmcecosse
I have thought about this conversion - but the rear brake backplate is quite complicated, and so only way I could see to do it is to cut the centre out of a normal rear backplate - and weld it into the centre of the front brake backplate! Then - modify to take the normal rear cylinder and of course the piviot point for the other end of the shoes. Quite a task! My old Rally Minor did have Wolseley rear brakes and they were fantastic - handbrake turns with ease!

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 1:31 pm
by rayofleamington
the rear brake needs one leading and one trailing shoe - this allows the handbrake to work efficiently in BOTH directions.
Therefore not much to be gained by using front brake kit on the rear apart form a lot of hassle.

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 1:35 pm
by PSL184
Yes, similar to my thinking Roy... Would you use single cylinder?
Rob, I see where you are coming from but brake balance front to rear is just as important as side to side AND I have to have something to keep me busy over the winter :-)

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 1:38 pm
by bmcecosse
Yes - the single cylinder with the handbrake lever - just exactyly as per normal rear brake but with front brake drum and shoes (mounted leading and trailing) and that modified backplate. I've got all the bits, and the idea - just need the time !!!!!!!!

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 1:38 pm
by PSL184
Ray, I don't see how a trailing shoe on the rear improves the handbrake :oops:

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 1:50 pm
by alanworland
Why bother! - sell the good parts you have and make sure your rear brakes are working properly, the handbrake should be good enough to lock the rears.

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 2:55 pm
by rayofleamington
Ray, I don't see how a trailing shoe on the rear improves the handbrake
it gives you a leading shoe forwards and backwards - so doesn't matter which way you park on a hill.

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 6:16 pm
by bmcecosse
Yes - if both are 'leading' they will be hopeless on a hill!
Reason for larger brakes is to get a better balance with the better front brakes (be they disc or drum). But this may possibly be achieved with (say) Marina rear brake backplates or something similar - as long as Minor hubs/8" drums/half-shafts can be used ??

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 7:04 pm
by PSL184
Hmmmm Marina 8" rears... Yes possibly a time saver. I'll look into it!

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 10:25 pm
by bmcecosse
It may work if the sealing arrangement to the axle tube ends is the same! But I would say it's a long shot.