Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Brakes

I had replaced the master with one I was give, but had to change reach by fitting old linkage, it was firm at first now presses firm then softens, no leak anywhere, suspect may be part of the issue. Like if you pump it firms then gives.
I had replaced the master with one I was give, but had to change reach by fitting old linkage, it was firm at first now presses firm then softens, no leak anywhere, suspect may be part of the issue. Like if you pump it firms then gives, which it didn't do before. I will swap with a new one (old one worked fine, just grubby) to rule out. The system bleeds fine, no air bubble, I will try reverse bleed tomorrow to see if an issue. Weirdly as above, doesnt lock up in reverse, maybe shoes need greased up around touch points on cylinders... I am determined to fix this week.

I've got the Girling part numbers for the Series 2 set up at home (I'm in work at the moment) but from memory its based loosely on the Austin A40 with the drums being a Morgan specific part.


Couple of thoughts:

Have you checked the brake drum for ovality?

How recent are the flexi hoses? One could be breaking down causing the brake to lock on?

I'd suggest transferring the brake shoes and drum across the axle to see if the fault moves across.

Arwyn

The drum was fine until I bleeded brakes, I think it's ok. New flexi hoses, first thing I changed. I think the drum may be a standard 9" drum used across various, including the Plus 4 55. I'm going to grease the shoes mounts and clean off rear today with a reverse bleed before I do anything else, all other parts arrive today so if not ok I'll replace all.

I suspect as its not happening in reverse drum must be true, and it may be the tope pad, I may change top for bottom just to see

Ah! that means a shoe is moving and is dragging with the rotation of the drum and wedging it tight. Worn friction meterial and location points would be my check here.

The 1955 Plus 4's used a different braking system with different backplates and a completely different (wider) brake drum)

Brake shoes, adjusters, springs and wheel cylinders cross to a Mk 1 Ford Consul.

Having said that, I converted my 1955 Plus 4 4 seat DHC to front disc brakes!

Arwyn

I think at this rate I'll be converting mine to a disc brakes too!

That's a full day of work, 4 x new front cylinders, new master cylinder, much better and more "bouncy". New rear hose (misses the metal wrap which would have been helpful. I need to bleed again in the morning, as still spongy, but much better. A slight pull to left now (swapped top and bottom pad) and aligned backplate a little, greases everying up and cleaned. I suspect if I adjust front right she will balance out. No locking.

A long day, 12 hours of work! Can get a drum off in about 3 minutes now and getting quite good with the old split pins!

Well done. isn't it funny how such simple brakes can cause such unfathomable problems. I think it's partly down to how we view the Morgan, We see them as precious and tend to baby around a bit too much whereas when these things we standard fitment we just got on with it!

As usual it is because it's been sitting. I took the rear drums off (what a joy and simple!), the lower pistons on the new looking cylinders were a little sticky, a gentle move and they were all good.

We bled the brakes again, FL, FR, RR, RL with a nice tap along the lines. Now the pedal is much firmer and the car stops well.

Still a little pull left which I believe will be the left being set a little sharper, which we can back off in due course, but very manageable, and I'll let it settle.

Handbrake (these are not a great design) took some tweaking, but no things feel better.

I went to replace the solenoid, and the one I fitted would start and not stop! Same wiring etc, the seller is sender me another. I can't see how if they are visually identical that it would be different, most likely be a bad one!

Feel like I'm getting there now!