well its been about 3 weeks since i've driven my mini, and as i can remember the last drive was pretty crazy with my drum brakes hardly stopping me at all, even when my foot was almost going through the firewall.

im taking my car in tomorrow to some guy who was recommended to me, and he lives about 40 or so minutes drive away. so just then i decided to start my car up and do drive around the block to see if i'd make it tomorrow. well lets just say when i was reversing out of my driveway my car wouldnt stop at all until i put the handbrake on. so i didnt go for my drive around the block.

the brake pedal doesnt even feel like its connected to anything now, it just slips in like the cuttlery draw in the kitchen. is there anything i can do so i can possibly drive it tomorrow, im not a very handy man, but i can try if it means that my car wont ride up sum1's ass tomorrow morning.

Does pumping the brakes give you any pedal? If so theny u have air in the system, or they are badly adjusted.

pumping the brakes worked last time i drove it, but it didnt seem to do anythin this time... how much does it cost to get it towed?

Have you checked the fluid level in the master cylinder...and

that the pedal is connected to the master cylinder up under the dash??

Take the drums off and check to see if there is fluid leaking out...a lot means you need to replace wheel cylinders....

Finally, have you recently adjusted the brakes and are you sure you did it right?

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"Show me the Mini!"

i havnt adjusted the brakes at all. it just slowly got worse over about a week and then i took one of my friends for a drive and he's a fat guy and i showed him how pov my brakes were and ever since they just werent grabbin any good.

i'll have to check if the fluid is leaking, what can i do if it is leaking, cause im meant to take it to get fixed tomorrow morning at like 9:30 . but the pedal should be connected as it wasnt like a sudden thing where the brakes went from working to just doing nothing?

Sounds like typical drum brake adjustment prob. They need adjusting every week to maintain a high firm pedal, other wise just put up with pumping until u get discs...

Could be a number of things...no fluid in the master...air in the line...drums not adjusted...no shoes left or even thin drums...leaking cylinders...you need to go through and do the check list

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Stop Licking the Dog...I Don't Care Who Started It

You really should get help if you aren't confident with tearing down Mini brakes....it could just be that certain things are worn down enough so that it has gone out of adjustment as others have said....

If you take the risk and drive 40km...well you could get away with it if you were careful or you could have a huge stack and cause yourself a whole world of grief....

I would ask Graham in Aus really nicely or someone else on ausmini to do a house call....it just could be something really simple......you obviously should repay any kindness like this in an appropriate way....

or are you in the NRMA?? call em...

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"Show me the Mini!"

is this where i put my brake fluid?

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a335/stuvz/brake.jpg

sorry im a bit dumb

Yes, what is the level like currently?

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Starlet Conversion:
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15484

hydraulic cylinders (master, slave and wheel) don't like to sit stationary for along time.

Hard to really say what your problem is, but my guess would be adjustment, if not then master cylinder is cactus.

thanks for all ur help. i topped up the brake fluid and tried to bleed the brakes, found that the front right wheel was leaking like a *female dog*. so opened it up and the slave cylinder is screwed so i ordered 1 from repco and am currently waiting till next week i just hope that this fixes my problem so i can hit the streets again.

how long have you owned that Mini? Did you once come to a MCC meeting in Five Dock?

Hope you got the right size. Some are 15/16" diameter and some are 1"....
Iff you guessed wrong it'll veer left or right...

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Pops can vouch for that scary stuff!