BRAKE ADJUSTMENT Disc Front Brakes
The disc front brakes fitted to 1275 GT models are self-compensating and consequently do not require periodic adjustment.
Drum Front Brakes - Single Leading Shoe Type Early Mini models (pre Sept 1964) were fitted with leading and trailing shoe type front brakes, and these have a single square headed adjuster on each brake back plate which effects adjustment of both brake shoes .
With the front wheels raised clear of the ground, turn the adjuster clockwise, using a suitable spanner or brake key, until the drum is locked, but do NOT strain the adjuster. Back off the adjuster just sufficiently to allow the wheel to rotate freely without dragging or binding. Spin the wheel in its normal direction of forward rotation, apply the foot brake hard to centralize the brake shoes, and recheck the adjustment.
Adjust the other front brake in a similar manner
Drum Front Brakes - Twin Leading Shoe Type
All later models, with the exception of the disc-braked 1275 GT, are equipped with the more efficient twin leading shoe type front brakes. These have two squareheaded adjusters, one for each shoe, on the backplate .
It should be noted that, due to the location of the upper adjuster behind the steering arm, it is difficult to get a proper brake spanner to fit on it and an open-ended spanner will probably be required to turn the adjuster. In this case, take great care to avoid rounding-off the corners of the adjuster if it is stiff.
With both the front wheels raised clear of the ground, turn the upper adjuster in the opposite direction to that of the forward rotation of the wheel to bring the shoe away from the drum. Now turn the lower adjuster in the same direction as normal wheel rotation until the drum is locked, then back it off sufficiently to allow the wheel to rotate freely without dragging or binding. Spin the wheel in its normal direction of forward rotation, apply the footbrake hard to centralise the shoe, and recheck the adjustment.
Adjust the upper adjuster in the same manner as the lower one, then repeat the complete sequence for the other front brake.
Rear Brakes The rear brakes are of the leading and trailing shoe type and a single square-headed adjuster, which effects adjustment of both brake shoes is provided at each backplate .
With both rear wheels raised clear of the ground, adjust the rear brakes in a similar manner to that described previously for the single leading shoe type front brakes. Ensure that the handbrake is fully released before attempting to adjust the brakes.
Handbrake The handbrake is correctly adjusted when it operates efficiently on the third notch of the ratchet. Braking effect should be equal on both rear wheels and it should just be possible to turn them by heavy hand pressure.
Free play in the handbrake linkage is normally taken up automatically when the rear brakes are adjusted. However, if even with the rear brakes correctly adjusted the handbrake does not hold properly, it can be adjusted as follows:
First, with the rear wheels raised clear of the ground, check that the cable or cables, dependent on model year, are operating both rear brakes properly and are not seized or stiff at the pivot sections on the radius arms, or in the cable guide channels. Also check that the handbrake levers at the backplate are operating freely.
With the handbrake lever pulled on to the third notch on the ratchet, adjust the cables at the lever trunnion immediately behind the handbrake lever . Screw the adjusting nuts along the cables until the correct braking effect is achieved at each rear wheel.
On later models a single cable linkage with a compensator bracket is used and only a single adjustment point is provided . If unequal braking effect is obtained, check that the cable is free to move through the compensator at the front of the rear subframe.
After adjusting the handbrake, release the lever then check that both rear wheels turn freely without dragging or binding.