APBRAKES

MORGAN TRAD REAR BRAKES 1993-2019

GENERAL

The hydraulics and rear brakes on the Morgan have remained the same since mid-1993...though the front calipers were updated (though not improved) in 2008. They are made by a India-owned UK company called AP Caparro that took over some of the Lockheed premises in Leamington Spa. Therefore the rear hydraulics rears closely resemble those of other British cars. Here is a diagram from 1970 which is a good match for the system used on the Morgan rears since June 1993. I have taken some liberties in adjusting the diagrams to match Morgan. I do not know of any Morgan, Lockheed or AP Caparo diagrams or documention on Morgan specifically. In essence, the standard Lockheed fitament has been turned upside down to accommodate the Morgan handbrake cable.

The springs are harder to install than the older (Triumph type) brakes. You have to put one on both shoes and then hold the other (lower?) spring just right to have it slip into its slot...then push the shoes into place. After 1/2 hour of frustration you will get the hang of it. When you do, try to remember how you did it because I promply forgot the next day. (sad smile)

WATCHPOINT As well, these brakes have self-adjusters. When changing shoes or wheel cylinders, the adjuster will push the shoes out to their maximum, making it impossible to refit the drums and making you yearn for the days of the straightforward Girling rears (pre June 1993). You must release the self-adjuster to permit the shoes to compress inward. See below.

Here is what I have. Please remember that the diagrams and pictures will seem bottom side up. I will contact Caparro and see if they have anything more helpful for the fronts, the hydraulics and the rears.

DIAGRAM

PDF

CHANGING THE WHEEL CYLINDER (POST-1993)

Aside from one watchpoint and one trick-of-the-trade, this is a straight-forward job that can be done in minutes on the post-1993s.

1. Loosen the wheel spinner or nuts and place the car solidly on stands.
2. Remove the spinner or nuts completely and take off the wheel.
3. Remove the drum.
4. Undo the brake line to the wheel cylinder at the rear of the back plate. (Be careful to remove the fluid from yourself and make sure it does not not touch the car paint!)
5. Remove one end of the long spring ( #12 in diagram 9.2 above). Leave the shoes in situ. (I use a small needle nose vice-grip.)
6. Pry the C-clip holding the wheel cylinder to the back plate out of its slot.
7. Move the shoes with a screwdriver out of the wheel cylinder and wiggle the cylinder off.
8. Install the new one the same way.
9. Jam it fast in place from the front using vice grips between the adjacent flange and the body of the wheel cylinder.
10. Install the new c-clip by bending one part of the clip up so that the other two contact points can be seated into the slot, and then pull or pry the bent end of the "C" over the post and force it into the slot. Make extra sure that all three contact points of the clip are in contact with the slot and well-seated.
11. Carefully position the ends of the shoes in their wheel cylinder slots. Squeeze the wheel cylinder ends and shoes togther to make sure the cylinders are not holding the shoes apart.
12. READ WATCHPOINT ABOVE
13. Reinstall the drum.
14. Bleed the brake lines.
15. Pump the brakes and you will hear clicks as the adjuster takes up any slack.

PART #s

CAPARO CW15953

LOCKHEED DELPHI LW15953

IMPORTANT WATCHPOINT Hydraulics are subject to a primary GoMoG Law, namely: A failure of a component is the surest sign it will fail again. Collector cars are not like the other (mundane) vehicles we have been trained to deal with. Morgans are only under warranty for a short period and yet we expect they will last forever. A Morgan begins life with obsolete parts (which we love) and the skills to maintain them, in the current era (2024) has been decimated in the last 2-3 decades. ACT ACCORDINGLY.

Your hydraulics can become a forever product (aside from changing their internals seals (generic parts) every 30 years or so.) Morgan parts you think are nw are merely rebuilt, at the lowest cost possible ) in India and China. You can be smart if you either:
1. always buy and carry an extra in spares
2. OR BEST, while the disappearing skills still exist, have the failed unit refurbished localy by resleeving in stainless steel.

SAFETY BRAKE WATCHPOINT
by Lorne Goldman at the eMog Pub 2003

WATCHPOINTS AP REAR BRAKES

1. WATCHPOINT 1 The Morgan braking system was changed in June 1993. At the rear, the compensator bracket was removed from the rear of the axle and the shoes became self-adjusting. The earlier Girling required regular manual adjustment. Sadly, Agents and owners complain that the self-adjusting feature does not seem to work well. This stemmed from a lack of an original proper setup, from the Factory. It can be cured fairly easily.

What has happened is that Factory, for many years (still?) had been connecting the hand brake cable before filling and bleeding the hydraulics. By doing so, the handbrake prevents the self-adjustment feature from working properly. The proper sequence is to first fill and bleed the hydraulics, pump the brakes and ONLY THEN connect the handbrake system.

To cure and properly setup the rear brakes, fully slack off or disconnect the hand brake cable at its adjuster (located in the rear just off the "hoop" at the rear...(loosen and remove the outboard nut.) Then simply pump, the brakes slowly until the clicking from the rear drums stops. (3-4 pumps). Each click indicates the adjuster is adjusting to do its job. (This will resolve many issues, from the squeaking many have experienced to uneven wear and a bevy of other issues in between.)

Now you must tighten the hand brake cable until it works when engaged and doesn't when it is not engaged. This may be a bit of a hassle.

The new handbrake cable (FAR superior to the Girling one) was made to engage after as much as 7 clicks at the handbrake lever. The Girling had a rather bizarre set up where the lever was straight upright when unengaged and required only 4 clicks backwards to stop the wheels. The AP was designed to be engaged at 7 clicks and cants backwards like a normal handbrake lever when doing so.

Sadly the Production department interpreted this new proper angle as too far back as they were used to the Girling system. To compensate and get it back to the Girling position, they shortened the handbrake cable/space between the bracketry section at the rear. This may make reconnecting the adjuster difficult. (It likely contributed to the improper set-up of the brakes as well.)

I was able to get mine back in but for those who are having a hassle, simply remove the cable at the inboard "stop" (bolt is underneath) reconnect the cable/adjuster by threading it just a bit, and then reconnect the cable at the stop. (The short cable problem can be permanently cured by bringing the stops together about 1" to create the proper slack.)

WATCHPOINT!!! (1999) This improper Factory installation and/or lack of handbrake usge usage can also have another very sad effect. It can create a soggy brake pedal! If the fluid tests as good, and the bleeding of the brake system has been done and you still have a soft pedal with a post June 1993 Morgan, then you hand brake is the culprit. It gas not been self-adjusting as it should. This can be easily cured (hopefully).
METHOD:
1. Remove the tool tray behind the seats to expose the handbrake cable adjuster.
2. Chock the front wheels.
3. Release handbrake.
4. Now slacken the handbrake adjuster as described until there is plenty of slack on the cable.
5. Have your wife or friend operate the foot brake pedal several times forcibly. You should see the "auto" adjuster operate and hear clicks until it takes up the saad slack.
6. Verify that the handbrake cable, when off, will not rub, so that when it IS used, you can still get a finger in the slot allowing for stretch of the cable.
You will need to jack the rear of the car (which is why you chocked the front tyres) in orer to rotate the rear wheels by hand.
If none of this works, you have a rear cylinder issue within the drums....very very rare to havce that simultaneously.

2. WATCHPOINT 2 UPDATE 2011

There is another watchpoint for all with later brakes.

FIX FOR TOO TIGHT REAR BRAKES

3. WATCHPOINT 3 HAND BRAKE Post June 1993
by Lorne Goldman

Owners and dealers report that there has been a "bad batch of handbrake cables". The outer plastic sheath cracks and allows water entry. The most common site is at the bend where the cable enters the brake drum but it can occur elsewhere. Anyone with a post-2009 car should check the cable carefully for damage from rust. This presages a break.

The cable costs around £80 but labor can be hefty to install it. If the right side near side one breaks you need not replace the entire cable. It the ledft side breaks snaps, the entire cable will need replacing. That will entail removing the propshaft cover (the cable is secured to floor under the cover with clips) and for most owners that will mean removing the seats to remove the transmission cover's leather shroud and the transission cover itself.

The other end will require some brake work to access the cable.

N.B. Regardless of how old the car is or how much of your warranty remains, the Factory will not accept a claim on the cables. Claimants have been informed that the new MMC Warranty Manager considers it a "wear" part and will not entertain any responsibilty.