Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Rear Brake Adjustment

Hi everyone,
After jacking up my Morgan the near side rear wheel is solid and won't turn. I've removed the wheel but cannot seem to find an adjustment screw to back off the shoes and allow me to free the wheel up.
Any suggestions or advice extremely welcome.
Phil

Not sure what the age of your car is Phil, but the later cars have self adjusting rear drums. You've probably got a sized brake cylinder. Tapping the drum all around with a hide or rubber mallet might shock it enough to get the drum off. Good luck!

Thanks Jay. It's a 1994 4/4 and looking at it you could be right. I'll give it a try. There are 4 cross head screws and 4 hexagonal headed bolts on the drum. I assume I have to remove all of these to remove the drum? Phil

Phil,

Only the early cars (up to the 1980s?) had the square brake adjustor on the back plate. On these, brake adjustment was a piece of cake and you could always adjust up or down to suit.

I understand why the self adjusters were introduced, but it does make the job more difficult.

Apologies for asking the obvious but you haven't got the car in gear have you? If not then follow Jay's advice above, but be prepared to use some substantial tyres levers to prise the drum off , if all else fails to shift it, you might need to replace the shoes after doing so. I would also put a regular rear drum removal and inspection on your maintenance rota.

This brings me to another personal crusade, if we don't use our cars things will seize up through lack of use. Cylinders are much less likely to seize on well used cars.

Don't remove the cross head screws! On my car there are only 2 small bolts which need removal, but I am sure you have counted accurately. Remove all of them.

There is info here

http://www.gomog.com/allmorgan/brakeindex.htm

I believe that removing all the screws is not needed

sometimes with stuck on breaks where whacking the drum does not free it up.

try doing a few reverses and forwards on the drive just a short distance nothing to heat them up and see if the cars power breaks the seal rather than 1 human power set of arms.

Do not remove the screws - only the hex headed bolts. Try to replace and not reuse these as I've had them shear on re-tightening.

The hub may need a "whack" with a suitable mallet to help free it (even without anything sticking).

Do you normally leave the car with the handbrake on and was your last run at least damp? If so may have just suck on. Try rocking the car (with the wheels on) or a movement in first/reverse. Might just free it. Keep your foot near the brake!

I fully take Andy's point about lack of use creating issues with bits sticking etc. I took the decision to not use the car in winter and only use it from spring to Autumn in dry decent weather. I've therefore jacked the car up on axle stands to protect the tyres from the cold weather even though the car is garaged. This is when I noticed the problem. I'm now regretting doing this and I think I'll take what seems to be the general view to keep the car on the road whilst avoiding really bad road conditions. Thanks everyone.

On my 2012, this is the arrangement:


Small bolts hold the drum in place.

Make sure your handbrake is fully released as this could be applying some pressure.