dual circuit brakes - Morris Minor Owners Club (2024)

dual circuit brakes

• Quote

Postby BaritoneUke » Wed Jan 10, 2024 1:57 pm

hi, been looking into possible solutions for a few weeks...the upright mini master cylinder with a stepped bore and reservoir on the top has been suggested as a compact solution (requires a custom pedal box I think - don't actually have an example of the master yet). Anybody tried this? Or any obs? (I'll prob. get a used one to experiment and get a new one if the idea works out).
The split was apparently front to back (discs to shoes) so could be problematic for diagonal split?

Re: dual circuit brakes

• Quote

Postby stuffedpike20 » Wed Jan 10, 2024 3:41 pm

I tried it 35 years ago with a Fiat 124 (?) master cylinder.
The cylinder fitted into the chassis rail just like a minor one, and used the same pedal and push rod set up. It had a remote filler, and split the drum brakes front and back.
One day the brakes seized on, and I removed it and went back to a morris one.
Happy days.

Re: dual circuit brakes

• Quote

Postby simmitc » Wed Jan 10, 2024 3:46 pm

"Back in the day" we used to use Marina/Ital dual circuit cylinder on a pedal box that was available off the shelf. I don't know if there are any still around.

Re: dual circuit brakes

• Quote

Postby ManyMinors » Wed Jan 10, 2024 4:24 pm

The OP says he is looking "for a solution" but doesn't say to what.....
I know that all of us drive modern cars which have dual circuit braking systems but have we ever actually needed them? I haven't.
I have driven a Morris Minor for more than 50 years fitted with standard drum brakes and find them absolutely fine in that form.
The brakes don't prevent me from doing anything I want to do with the car.
Therefore I will continue to enjoy my nice simple little car and not look for a solution to a problem I don't have

Re: dual circuit brakes

• Quote

Postby philthehill » Wed Jan 10, 2024 5:06 pm

Re: dual circuit brakes

• Quote

Postby myoldjalopy » Wed Jan 10, 2024 6:41 pm

Re: dual circuit brakes

• Quote

Postby BaritoneUke » Wed Jan 10, 2024 8:32 pm

So glad stuffedpike20 survived the brake siezure - must have been quite a shock.
Marina pedal boxes seem to be a favourite from what I've seen. The australian solution looks very professional - spares back-up could be an issue - but at least it's made specifically for the job.

Re: dual circuit brakes

• Quote

Postby simmitc » Wed Jan 10, 2024 10:04 pm

I understand the desire for dual circuit - I once had a single circuit Mini where one of the link/transfer pipes on the front wheel failed resulting in first a loss of pressure and then loss of fluid. I drove home carefully using the handbrake, but it would have been better with the other circuit still working - not least because the brake lights would have worked. Fortunately we lived in a rural area and it was late at night, so very little traffic. I would be happy to have the solution.

Re: dual circuit brakes

• Quote

Postby Blaketon » Thu Jan 11, 2024 11:03 am

I took the attached photo some years ago. The pedal box and pedals of a Marina had been fitted. Not sure if I will ever get around to doing this and I'd want it to be a tidier job. Of course the handbrake is a kind of dual circuit.

Attachments

IMG_1293.JPG (4.23 MiB) Viewed 144930 times

Re: dual circuit brakes

• Quote

Postby philthehill » Thu Jan 11, 2024 12:05 pm

Dual circuit brakes normally act diagonally not just front or back brakes.
Having the circuits diagonal goes a long way to ensuring that the car pulls up in a straight line.
Having the brakes split to front or rear increases the risk of the car spinning out of control under hard braking.

Re: dual circuit brakes

• Quote

Postby Blaketon » Thu Jan 11, 2024 12:11 pm

I had a couple of VWs, that split diagonally and I remember they did it that way from the start. My late model MG Midget and my mother's BGT are, like my last two Minis, split front/rear.

Re: dual circuit brakes

• Quote

Postby BaritoneUke » Thu Jan 11, 2024 12:27 pm

Thank you people...very helpful. I'm coming around to the Phil's australian solution (minor magic), I can always order some spares at the same time in the unlikely event I need them urgently. It's ticked a number of boxes including having a sep. reservoir but not sure yet where this sits.

Re: dual circuit brakes

• Quote

Postby don58van » Fri Jan 12, 2024 9:59 am

The Minor Magic kit is based on the Aussie Ford Laser / Mazda 323 master cylinder. So spares are very widely available--here in Oz Kits of this design have been used in Oz for decades.
Don in Oz

Re: dual circuit brakes

• Quote

Postby Bill_qaz » Mon Jan 15, 2024 10:38 am

Regards Bill

Re: dual circuit brakes

• Quote

Postby BaritoneUke » Mon Jan 15, 2024 10:55 am

Re: dual circuit brakes

• Quote

Postby alan12666 » Mon Jan 15, 2024 9:33 pm

I got the Minor Magic kit last year and fitted it in my 63 convertible. Very happy with it, and with the peace of mind the dual circuit brings. Be aware the pedal needs modifying to allow more travel for the dual circuit to work properly but I don't notice that while driving. Would recommend it even though not cheap.

Re: dual circuit brakes

• Quote

Postby kevin s » Tue Jan 16, 2024 1:53 pm