Hi All,
I have started the long process of restoring my Cooper S. Today I begun to strip down the rear subframe.......I'm starting from the ground up!. I think I remember reading that someone has a template that can be borrowed to do the painted number on the rear subframe. Can anybody tell me who may have this or the thread about it.

Also, after an initial lick of paint stripper on the rear brake backing plates I found this yellow stamped number. I can only really make out the RH one which I think it reads A811770RH. The left side one also starts with A8 but I cant make out the rest.....except for the LH. Both plates also have impression stampings that read 113516 LH (left side) and 113515 RH (right side).

OK, So does anybody know what the yellow stampings are suppose to be? If I have read it wrong what are the correct number/letters?. Is anybody insane enough like me to think about or has already replicated these yellow stampings? Were they on all back plates?






Ian

Could be just a part number

I think you`ll find it`s "AB...."

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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.

Yes I think your right Matt. Would you think the LH one would have the same number as RH only with the LH at the end?

The 113516 & 113515 are the part numbers for the back plates.
http://minikingdomonline.com.au/product ... e-rh-rear/
http://minikingdomonline.com.au/product ... e-lh-rear/

I'd assume the yellow ones are for the complete assembly, as different models had different size wheel cylinders. I'd guess they have part numbers one apart, similar to the backing plates. I'm sure someone has the part book with the different assembly numbers listed...

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The yellow numbers starting with AB followed by five numerics are the Girlock (Girling Lockheed) manufacturers part numbers. The stamped numbers are the BMC part numbers, as already mentioned.

The following extract from the Girlock parts book for trailer and caravan drum brakes shows the part number format for the backing plates. It was easier to find than the Morris Mini one.

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

I think it was this thread you were referring to.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=88102&hilit=subframe+stencil

Good luck with you're resto.

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1963 Morris 850 Smoke Grey
1963 Morris 850 Shadow Blue
1965 Morris Mini Smooth Van
1966 Morris Mini Van
1969 Morris Mini Deluxe Resto
5/72 Clubman Gt

A bit more trivia on this subject.
Originally the S rear brake backing plates came in LH and RH versions and the wheel cylinders also came in LH and RH versions.
The original backing plates had only one hole for the wheel cylinder locating pin and that was on the rear side of the backing plate or was it the other way around. KRAFT disease perhaps?
The S 5/8" dia wheel cylinders had the locating pins mirror imaged to fit the backing plates.
My S had brake problems when new and the RH rear wheel cylinder was replaced.
In order to fit the replacement wheel cylinder the dealer had to drill an extra hole in the backing plate to fit the new wheel cylinder.
It seems that the replacement wheel cylinders were not LH or RH handed but universal.
In your pic both backing plates have 2 holes for the locating pin one of which seems to be a larger dia than the original.
I have replaced rear wheel cylinders several times over the years and the wheel cylinders have always had the locating pin to suit the original LH backing plate.

Was the LH/RH difference just a UK thing as part of the S mechanical CKD kit/pack or did this also apply to OZ built Minis of the era?

As I said just a bit of trivia and a question.

RonR

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68 build Mk1 Cooper S
72 Clubman GT project. Total restoration required

I understand the same applied to Oz made components. They certainly have different part numbers for left and right.

This is what Somerford say on their website:

Over the 41 years of Mini production, at least seven (and probably several more) different designs of rear brake backplate were used on all the different permutations of Mini braking systems. The engineering theory behind all the different designs was to physically stop the marriage of the wrong type of wheel cylinder (and there were several to choose from, as you'll see further down the page) to the many different braking set-ups. In the interests of your sanity and ours, plus of course commercial restraints, they have been rationalised down to... one!

The truth is, the market can get away with only one backplate design, so long as owners of a minority of Minis are willing to make one small modification to make the backplate appropriate for their cars (because we trust you not to try to fit the wrong wheel cylinder): On the back of most of the wheel cylinders, alongside the threaded boss for the brake pipe, is a small roll pin used to secure the cylinder in the correct position in the backplate. If the corresponding hole in the backplate is in the wrong place, simply drill a new one in the correct position. That's it.

http://www.somerfordmini.co.uk/eshop/in ... page&id=60

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43