Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) brakes?

Hi all, please excuse my lack of mechanical knowledge but I may have a brake issue, on my return journey back from the Williams open day ( very wet ) the car was pulling heavy to the right under braking. Took the car for a spin last night to check and if anything there was a very slight pull to the left?
could anyone throw any light on this or anyone had a similar experience, thanks inadvance.
ps hand break not on whilst parked

Sounds like the car needs to be checked out professionally if you are not confident...brakes are the most important part (with tyres!).

Have you checked the tyre pressure and had a "look" around? Is the brake fluid level OK? Is there any signs of leaking?

How does the pedal "feel"? Can you get somebody to press it down whilst you look at the front brakes? Do all the pistons seem to move.

Does the hand brake work?

With the car in neutral (and on level ground) and the handbrake off can you move it with no audiable drag from the brakes? Better still can you safely jack up and rotate each wheel - better still have somebody operate the brake pedal at the same time?

Sorry to ask more questions that I have answered...does sound like something sticking to me.

Hi Richard thanks for replying,
tyre pressures were fine and the pedal feel was fine ,
the rest I will have a look at hopefully this week,
Like you my thoughts were something sticking
fingers crossed for something simple
thanks again

Agree with all Richard has suggested.

Sounds like the front caliper was sticking until you got going and it freed off once you had stabbed the pedal - after you have washed the car always take it for a run it will avoid this happening.

The later problem sounds symptomatic of a sticky rear wheel cylinder and jacking up the rear wheels will soon tell you, always a good idea to take the drums off for a look see.

Whilst I totally agree that for safety you should take it to a garage unless your 100% confident with what you are doing what you report is an absolute classic condition and not at all uncommon. Its almost certainly a localised tight brake pad or pads caused by wet weather use and then standing for a few hours with a hot pad and damp conditions (in other words you had a drive then parked up). The first vigerous use of the brakes will probably cure it but gentle application of the brakes, as many of us would do, which is the norm on wet roads would exaggerate it. To test if that's what it is go to an industrial estate or retail park type location when its out of hours and find yourself a decent stretch of empty tarmac. Drive up to 30MPH and brake with moderate force, if it still pulls try again at 40, then at 50 each time braking harder. Sitting stationary press the brake pedal as hard as you can and hold for 5 seconds, now try again at 30 and 40.

If at 40MPH you can just hold the steering wheel loosely with finger tips (be ready to grab it!) and under hard braking it does not turn more than a little one way or the other the problem is almost certainly gone.

If after doing the above test (which comes from an old BL Technical Information Bulletin to dealers back in the 70's believe it or not)the car pulls in any way then get it to a garage, slowly, as a matter of urgency. I think however you will find its a condition many of us have had over the years that's caused by 'stiction' between the brake pad backing material and the caliper body......get whoever services your car to pull the pads next service, draw file the metal sides of the pads where they run on the caliper and clean out the caliper body until there is a clearance and reassemble with Coppa-Slip or ROCOL and the problem will be gone until the next pad change....unless you get them to do the same to those from new ;-).

i had the same with my first 4/4 around 40000 km .It was due to a leak in the rear left brake (drum) .

I agree 100% with Colin. This happens all the time on wet roads and is one of the "characteristics" of a Morgan. The only problem is guessing which way it is going to pull next!

It's also possible with wire wheels that puddle water ended up on the disc surface. More puddles on the left equals an initial pull to the right.

I came back in the same conditions in the three wheeler & mine leapt in any direction but straight until the discs & pads were warmed up a bit..

It's just Morgan's way of stopping you getting bored..

That's a great description Steve!!
Unfortunately I missed introducing you to smilerdab...