Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) 2000 plus 8 Lockheed brake calipers

I have a 2000 plus 8 with the Lockheed 4 piston calipers that have never been rebuilt and still have original pads.My steering is pulling to the right when I hit brakes and car only has 11,000 miles Or 17,700 kilometers and little pad wear so thinking it’s time to rebuild the calipers.Has anybody done theirs and have any info Or pictures.Any suggestions on getting stainless steel or brass sleeves inserted.Thank you

Have you first checked that grease from the king pins is not contaminating one of the disk?

Very simple and straightforward to do especially if you have an airline to blow the pistons out (use wood packing to get each one half way before you separate the calipers.

However almost certainly not needed. First port of call is visual as mentioned to check for disc contamination but after that 99 out of every hundred is due to a sticking pad. The pads should be free to slide in and out in the caliper body once backed off a little from the disk very few are the points of corrosion is between the cast body of the caliper and the metal edge to the pad backing plate.

Cleaning both spotlessly clean normally cure is it if not a few seconds of draw filing on the backing metal edge of the pad cured it, when you can fit them with just a thumb and one finger (pull and push) in and out a very thin smear of copper grease where you have cleaned the edge of the backing metal before inserting and jobs a good one remember to pump the pedal before you go for the roadtest to centralise the pads and take up any gap in the hydraulic system.

I think you will find that will probably cure the issue for you when the car is been left standing it’s a very common issue even for non-Morgans.

BR
Colin

At only 11000 miles in 20 years it is almost certainly suffering from lack of use.

I would be pretty certain that you have a sticking piston on the left hand caliper, but you do need to check that it is not another cause entirely , like grease on the discs , a worn steering joint, badly aligned tracking etc.

Turning to the caliper it may be that the lack of use has caused a build of dirt and fluid into a ridge which is inhibiting the piston from moving, if so just removing it carefully with some gentle persuasion , and then a new set of rubber seals , will alleviate the problem

I am not familiar with the options on your side of the pond ,over here the authorities are not keen on renewing brake seals and would prefer us to replace the part entirely. However you should be able get this caliper re-sleeved by a competent machine shop (but make sure they have done this sort of work before , you really do not want to take risks with brakes) and then all the seals renewed, the alternative is to replace the caliper with another original one , or to upgrade to a Hi-Spec alloy caliper (sorry do not have part numbers) which is a better alternative as it saves a lot of unsprung weight.

Thank you I will check for the contamination from king pin grease and order a rebuild kit.Anybody have pictures of the Lockheed caliper separated or the parts as would like to make sure I have the right parts before taking off.

I've rebuilt plenty of calipers over the years, none of which have needed sleeving, just a very good clean with scotchbrite and brake cleaner

I always replace the pistons as a matter of course.

Arwyn

I take the pads out, then press the pedal softly a couple of times. It's very easy to see which piston isn't reacting.

Then I put three pads back in, and a space in the fourth to stop the piston popping out, then get the piston well out, and give it a thorough clean. Maybe a lick of brake grease.

Then after doing all four, I check again, and make sure the pistons emerge at the same rate. Then as noted above, make sure the pads don't stick in the calipers, and usually that does it.

I would also check the disc ( rotor for USA !) condition and the flexible pipes. If you are refurbishing the callipers you might as well go over the whole system for other signs of ageing issues. Your symptoms certainly sound like sticking pistons/calliper/pads.
Low mileage Morgans can easily deteriorate due to lack of use. Rubber parts harden, perish, electrical connectors get dirty, corrode. Fuel lines deteriorate, ethanol might cause problems.

Just ordered a rebuild kit from Morgan spares in New York and braided hoses but no luck on this side of the pond for pistons.Any recommendations will be appreciated and hopefully they will ship here.

SAE here is a full stainless piston and caliper service kit should you need it Satinless pistons and service kit Best to contact them first but I'm pretty sure these are the calipers fitted to our Plus 8's.
They look happy enough to ship to you over there.

I've not had a problem with the fronts but had to replace my rear wheel cylinders which imho are the one's worth getting sleeved in stainless, I haven't as the new OEM cylinders are cheap enough and I do them myself.

p.s. Don't google Austin Princess