Brakes.....or rather the lack of them.

Hi All

I noticed on my last foray into the outside the world that under braking i was swinging rather wildly to the left. I thought this unusual because it usually swings wildly to the right. :-S

Anyway, when i got back i noticed that there was an awful lot of brake fluid emanating from the right hand forward drum, come to think of it there is also some weeping from the left hand forward drum.....blast.

Anyway, i looked inside the right hand side this morning and sure enough there was a nice thick film of brake fluid covering the linings and the inner surface of the drum, which must explain the cars disinterest in stopping in a straight line

But I digress, it appears my car has been fitted with LWB brakes because they have two cylinders per wheel instead of the SWB's one and i was wandering which type of replacement cylinders to go for? There seems to be lots of choice on paddocks and i'm not sure which ones i should get considering i'm going to change both cylinders on both sides.

Cheers

Late SIII's have 11 inch twin leading shoes on the front. if yours is a late III then order the correct brakes for the year.

Its an L reg which i think is 1973?

Are the 109 and later 88 double brakes of the same design?

Yes the later 109 and later series threes are same. Buy "Mintex" lined brake shoes, if your adjusters are dodgy replace them. I find "Allmakes " adjusters are OK but best fitted with the brake plate off and on the bench. Cylinders pay your money and take your chance, I usually spend the bit extra for Delphi. Well set up the brakes can be very good.

I've been studying these recently as I'm wondering whether to put the 109 brakes on the 88 and some 1-ton brakes I have on the 109.

Looking at your photo they look to be regular 109 fronts (as opposed to 6cyl/v8) a picture from the opposite angle showing the detail of the slave piston and the brake shoe where it mates will clear it up... (see pages 1L-03 and 1L-04 of the parts manual)

D

Quality cylinders for sure are the way to go. Buy replacement pipes too for coonecting the cylinders as the ones on there will be seized. Hacksaw at the ready

I've had good experience with Lockheed / Delphi and TRW cylinders. Mintex shoes seem to come recommended too

+1 on quality brake parts. Don;t even think aout the blue-box stuff - Dellphi/Mintex is my usual go-to as well.

As opposed to buying premade brake pipes, I keep a roll of cupronickel brake line in the shop, new ends and a double flare tool. This way if i do shear one it's a doddle to make up a new one, either with the ends off the old line or new ends out of stock (all carried by my local motor factor cheaply!).

Making a brake pipe is really easy and this way you'll never have to wait for the parts place to open!

ajr