Hi all,
I have a '74 Clubman with drum brakes all around. The brakes work ok, but after release, the pedal doesn't return to the up position. I need to grab the pedal with the toe of my left foot and pull it up.

So my question is, are the brake pad pull off springs the only thing forcing the pads back to their rest position? Is there something within the master cylinder that would restrict fluid flowing back into the reservoir ?

Or something else that I haven't thought of....no doubt....

more probable that the brake & clutch pedal pivot pin is dry & rusty & grabby

do a little check & see if the clutch pedal moves a little while pressing the brake pedal

there is also a brake pedal return spring, wrapped around the top of the pedal ( there`s also a clutch pedal return spring as well) maybe that has broken

if the problem is "within" the pedals & their pivots (the asembly) , then often a removal of the pedal "assembly" to clean , repair & replace parts, adding some grease to the pivots, is needed

_________________
No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

There are three parts that help the return of the pedal - the drum shoe springs, the master cylinder spring (or springs) and the pedal spring.

The pedal spring operates on both the clutch and the brake pedals. If you look at the bar between the pedals, the spring should coil around the bar, and at each end it should be hooking around the back of each pedal to keep them up. There's a fair bit of tension behind that spring, and you should find it pretty difficult to unhook the spring from the pedals. If it's not hooked around the pedal, then it's a pain to do, but hooking it back around will solve your problem.

ah yes, forgot about those two pedal springs.

Removed and inspected, heavily corroded, so no doubt that's the problem. Will take them into work on monday and clean/paint/lube and retest.

Thanks for the solution !