M18904

[Bruce]

Started work on the front axle and brakes today. We have a pair of wide rim drums, so have decided to fit these to the front axle in an effort to help with the marginal braking. The rear drums had a strap round, which I assume is designed to help stiffen the drums up. It had a double ended bolt with a left hand thread one side and a right hand thread the other. Of course no matter how careful I was and applying plenty of heat they both sheared...so we had to make new ones. Tricky little things to make...used stainless in an effort to stop them seizing again.

[Ian Grace]

Hi Bruce,

Good work with machining those left hand threads!

Those bands are not to stiffen the drum, they are anti-squeak bands. They should have a strip of rubber fitted between them and the drums. While these were not fitted to every Minor on production, I have photos of cars at the factory that are fitted with them. Perhaps they were fitted it the brakes squeaked on the factory road test.

Here's aMorris Motors close-up of the prototype Semi-sports. It shows road mud, but the wider shot shows it to be unlicensed.

[Bruce]

Thanks Ian,

Lovely photo. There was no sign of rubber between the band on our drums. I will fit a thin strip in that case for originality sake.

Thanks,
Bruce