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August 26, 2004
G'day Guy
Many cars in the BMC range had a common bolt pattern for the front brake backing plates. Not too surprising when you think they could have been drawn up by the same designer or draftsman.
Larger cars had (wait for it) larger brakes. Disc brakes were quite rare and, in the 1950's and early 1960's, only used on expensive up-market cars, such as Jaguar.
The Austin A40 Farina had 8" drum brakes, deemed necessary to slow down it's heavier sedan body shell. The Morris Major (also badge engineered as Austin Lancer, Wolseley 1500, Riley 1500) had 1500cc and later for the Morris 1600cc engines, and 9" front drum brakes.
Both A40 and Major backing plates bolt straight up to the Sprite stub axle. The 8" drums are an "interference fit" with the tie-rod end but a little work with the hand held portable lathe (aka: angle grinder) fixes that. With the 9" drums you need to bend the steering arm, if I remember correctly.
Perhaps your car was a "project car" for a previous owner who acquired it incomplete, and they fitted drum brakes because they were available. Who knows. There's no really good reason is there?
avagoodday
Colin
"Colin@SpriteParts" < colin@... > 33631
Posted on August 26, 2004 08:05 AM
Posted to category(s) Body | Braking System | Drive Train | Engine (external) | Engine (internal) | Miscellaneous | Suspension & Steering
