Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Brake upgrades

I was originally quite worried about the brakes but as others have said, you get uses to it and they seem to get better

I take the 3W on pretty hard canyon runs fully loaded and never have the brakes faded. I did too, wonder about bigger calipers but in the end, Morgan brakes are damn good.

If you really want to be frightened, try the brakes on a vintage three wheeler. "Useless" is a pretty accurate term, even when they've been improved a bit as many have.

And, as original, the brake pedal only operates the rear brake, the fronts are on a lever with what must be the crudest ratchet mechanism going.

Modifying my vehicles is something I like to do and spend much time and money on. My first thing I'd like to upgrade is the braking as I always feel safety is the most important thing to upgrade. I'm glad everyone else is happy though, so no worries mates.

If anyone has advice on this, please let me know. Otherwise I'll be happy to report back my findings after my daughter and I get our fingers dirty.

I'm new here so pardon my ignorance on M3W specs.

What is the DOT rating for the brake fluid used in M3W's?

Also, not sure if UK uses the US DOT ratings for brake fluid or similar ratings.

Most standard cars and bikes come with DOT-3 and some high performance applications will use DOT-4. These are based on glycol and glycol esters. They will absorb moisture directly from the air etc. The basic difference between DOT-3 and DOT-4 is the boiling point.

DOT-5 is a silicone base and is much more user friendly as it does not eat the paint if spilled. But with that comes one negative side affect.

If the M3W comes with DOT-5 fluid, you will generally always have a soft pedal feeling, almost like air in the lines.

Many years ago there was a big push to DOT-5 fluids, but over the past few years most aftermarket systems spec out the DOT-3 or 4.

The DOT-3 and DOT-4 are just better performers with water absorption and blistering paint on contact being the main downsides to the DOT-3-4 fluids.

M3W uses DOT 4 rated brake fluid.

As brake fluid isn't exactly expensive, it's just as easy to change the fluid every few years.

The other problem with the silicone based fluid is that you cannot, or even, must not, ever mix any other fluid with it. Like topping up for example.

Well asl long as it's DOT-3 in the brake systems, it sounds like the guys with the low or soft pedal just have air in the lines or as one said, a poorly adjusted rear brake shoe setup.

I'm enjoying this forum already...

I still think it's a lot of money to kick out for the M3W, but in comparison to my latest '09 Harley, maybe not so much. My CVO FLTRSE3 Harley Road Glide listed for $32k and then I added another $4k in add ons.

Time will tell, but one may be in my future.

As I said to Crowbar, on this forum, the cost of a car is what you lose when you sell it, not what it costs in the first place, so go and check out those residuals.

That's what I tell my wife anyway........................

Yeah, let me bleed them myself and see where we end up. It does stop when you stand on it, so spongy is fairly accurate. I've also started digging around for better tires instead. We'll see!