Hydraulic Brakes

[ashford]

I need a master cylinder rod for a 34 minor (might be same as early morris eight). I think these were available new at one point but no one seems to stock them any more. Alternatively the whole master cylinder pedal assembly would also be of use.
I'd be intrested in hearing from any one who has modified the standard hydraulic brakes for safety / performance. I've heard of people using landrover series 2 master cylinders and parts from others including Morris 1000 and even fiesta. What are the pros and cons?

[DF9053]

It might be worth checking the MG's of the day and later, the brake pedal rods complete with ball cups/adjusters are readily available for these cars.

If my memory serves me right the one on my TC is very similar to the Landrover Series 1 and the Morris 8 (and other Morris cars of the time)

Cheers
Jeremy

[chris lambert]

Try Past Parts on 01284 750729 or via their website http://www.pastparts.co.uk They were very helpful to me and carry an amazing stock of brake parts for pre forties cars. Located in Bury St. Edmunds.

[Toby]

Eddie Wylde at Wyvern can supply new 8 or minor masters and wheel cylinders, the 8 and minor do vary slightly and they are not tin cans but machined from solid-excellent quality! My minor had a modern one on it and the brake lines are too small diameter to shift enough fluid, mind you with all the right parts they're still no better than the cables on my tourer! 8 backplates fit straight on as do 8 drums. You can read all about the saga under "technical" or "our cars"

[ashford]

Many thanks for your replies. I tried past parts who sell alot of useful spares but sadly no minor master cylinder rods. I spoke to Eddie Wylde a while ago (I'll try again)- he still supplies new master cylinders and rods but no longer stocks original spec master cylinder rods due to a large increase in his manufactures' prices. As the actual master cylinder on mine is in very good condition I am less inclined to go to the expence of a complete new set up. I could possibly get one made at a local machinest but my original brake rod has been so crudely welded its no good as a pattern. The ball and cup joint has also popped apart. This joint parting through wear must be a common failiure so Im surprised they are no ones seems to be selling them. From memory I thought early morris 8s were the same - sometime ago I compared the 8 handbook and the 1934 minor handbook and they seem to use the same diagram for the master cylinder but I'll check again.

[1936morriseight]

The Morris Motors parts book illustrations for both the late hydraulic braked Minor and Pre-Series, Series I / II Eight pushrod assembly look identical, although the part numbers differ - Minor 37852, Eight 38185. The Series E are similarly almost identical though slightly shorter I believe - part number 39133.
I bought a new one for my Series I Eight some years ago through the Morris Register (Spares Group), of whom I'm a member. The M.R. new Spares Service no longer publish a catalogue, however in the January 2000 catalogue the pushrod and ball joint was listed at £35.10p. Harry Edwards stocked them at one time as I think did Phil Daintree - unfortunately Phil retired a couple of years ago, although someone else took over his small engineering business - I don't have this guy's name or address unfortunately. MG TA / TB / TC used an almost identical master cylinder to the Morris Eight and a similar pushrod and ball joint assembly - an old 1986 Moss MG T Type Catalogue lists the part number as 181 - 400 Pushrod Master Cylinder (with ball joint). May be worth checking the T Type specialists websites
Certainly if your ball joint has popped out of the cup, then it's simply too worn / dangerous to use.

Hope this all helps.

Jeff
1936morriseight

[ashford]

Thanks Jeff for all that very useful info; if the morris register still stock them that sounds like the answer.

[Toby]

Dave Parrish supplied 2nd hand for me. Obviously 8 and I had to mod the pedal connection

[ashford]

Thanks Toby. I will try David Parish next - presumably he's a Morris 8 man? I tryed the morris register but they have stopped stocking them also due to the high production costs. I looked in to early T type MGs. These appear to have the same or very similar master cylinder but with a different pedal connection to the minor so perhaps they use the same brake push rod as an 8 . How tricky is the pedal modification?

[Highlander]

I am told that my 1933 minor has hydraulic conversion. I have had trouble with my brakes seizing on!! I just turn the front valve and relieve the pressure and on I go. I will be looking at this later - does anyone have Halbe quality photographs of the master cylinder and the push rod conection to the brake pedal. My push rod enters the master cylinder at an angle and not straight.My master cylinder has a screw top and looks like a small tin. Highlander.

[ian judd]

Re the master cylinder rod. When I converted my car to hydraulics I wasn't able to use the original Morris pedal because the M type one is different. The Morris pedal I had was in any case too rusty to use, and the ball and socket was worn out, so I welded a substantial vertical strip of steel to the bottom of the M pedal and screwed a clevis on to the end of the old rod. The clevis is simply pinned onto the bottom of the pedal and any adjustment needed is done by screwing/unscrewing the clevis on the rod. I have feeling that the Minor rod is shorter than an Eight but if you use a clevis it doesn't matter if you get a rod thats too long as you would be cutting and threading it anyway. It's not as per original but it does have the advantage of being a lot stronger than the original and there is nothing expensive to wear out.
Just thought I would mention it.

Cheers
Ian

[ashford]

Thanks Ian. That may be the solution I opt for in the end. Ta MG rods at 23 pounds seem cheap and these use the clevis pin connector like a morris 8 so I could either modify my original pedal or Im wondereing if a morris 8 pedal would fit straight on and join up with the T type rod.