7 replies to this topic

[bigcaddy]

1980 Leyland Mini
Stock

The brakes have always been pretty lame on Hoot. Well, I took it out for one more drive to work before putting it in storage for the winter. The brakes got really bad to the point the pedal would go to the floor and have just barely any braking. luckly I had the hand brake. The fluid level seems fine and there are no leaks.

My questions are:

What type of master cylinder do I shop for? where to shop?
Should i just rebuild it? which rebuild kit is the better of the bunch and where to get?

I am from the US so we usually use MiniMania or MossMotors.

I've never rebuilt a master cylider before. The VW ones were only around $20.00 so rebuilding them was a waste... I saw a price for $250-$500.. EEEEk.

Thanks for the help.

I have attached pics of my master. I know I know, I need to paint the engine bay. I plan to do that this winter when I rering the motor.

Also attached a pic of my mini for views.

Edited by bigcaddy, 21 November 2010 - 10:24 PM.

[Ethel]

You have a GMC167, it's no longer available but you should be able to get a repair kit for it.

If you need a new cylinder GMC227 would be the one, but it's a silly price. The price will be because the bottom is bored bigger than the top to reduce pedal travel by hooking up the rear drums to the big bore lower piston while retaining the small bore, & higher line pressure, up top for the front brakes. You could achieve the same by using a Metro (Austin Rover variety) master and rear wheel cylinders (or Mini ones of the same bore - Metro plumbing uses mostly metric threads).


The GMC227 is also Metric, with an obscure M12x1 lower union, M10x1 on the top.

[bigcaddy]

Ok, thanks.

I found this one on MiniMania.com. they want $85.00 for it US

seem reasonable?

[Ethel]

£26 + postage to you from Minispares

I'd strip the cylinder first and make sure the bore looks ok.

[Darkscamp]

That repair kit looks quite good, just dont buy the kits from ebay which are just the rubbers.

I bought just the rubbers and had to remove the screw from the centre of the spring/plunger, which included using a screw extractor because it had seized and a trip to A&E to remove the metal shard from my eye. Oh and i was wearing safty glasses at the time but the spring letting go knocked them off my face.


I'd deffo get the kit next time. One other point is to give the master cylinder a quick inspection to check for any roughness inside. I had to give mine a quick ream as a scuff inside was the cause of the seals deteriorating quicker.

[bigcaddy]

I removed the master cylinder and bought the nice kit from MINI Spares. what a nice kit. Everything installed fine. I plan to get it reinstalled over the weekend.

[Whiteandbluemini]

Sorry to hijack your old thread! I have stripped my master cylinder down its a GMC167, I have done all the seals on the first piston but cannot work out how to get the top one out? From what I can get from this there is a screw somewhere? Any advice is helpful thanks in advance!

[Ethel]

Remove the reservoir & you'll find a little pin lurking under the rubber gromety seally thing.