Proximity of handbrake cable to rear dampers

[martinclan56]

I have just trial fitted the rear axle, and all the associated bits and pieces, to my Marina based Roadster. My goodness it's heavy!

I am a bit concerned with how close the handbrake cable is to the dampers. It seems to be worse on the drivers side with a clearance of only 1 or 2 mm. I think it could easily touch when the car is being driven - which I guess would be an MOT failure.
Is this a standard problem and, if so, what have others done about it? In a worse case scenario I suppose I could extend the hand brake levers (the ones that pass through the brake back plate) by a few mm but that would be a real pain to do.

The picture was taken with the handbrake cable slack, but even with it under tension, the situation doesn't improve significantly.

Cheers, Robin

PS - I am using Spax adjustables - perhaps they are slightly bigger in diameter than OEM dampers?

hand brake cable by Robin Martin, on Flickr

axle trial fit by Robin Martin, on Flickr

[dogoncrazy]

Re: Proximity of handbrake cable to rear dampers

Seem to recall mine was very much the same when I built it, never caused any issues in the 12 years I had the Roadster.

[jon_wilkinson]

Re: Proximity of handbrake cable to rear dampers

Mine's the same with standard dampers. As dogoncrazy says, not caused any issues and MOT inspector has not mentioned it over the years.

[dcunn]

Re: Proximity of handbrake cable to rear dampers

Normal I believe, this was Q67 during rebuild.

Robin you might like to think about reversing the top shocker bolts, the way yours are will make any future removal difficult !
I originally did them as yours, then Ben suggested turning them round

[kolmershlagjp]

Re: Proximity of handbrake cable to rear dampers

hello
can you tell me the brake cable you have to buy for a marina base roadster thank you?

[martinclan56]

Re: Proximity of handbrake cable to rear dampers

It's the standard Morris Marina. Loads on Ebay (uk).
Cheers Robin

[kolmershlagjp]

Re: Proximity of handbrake cable to rear dampers

I bought a morris marina cable it was too small

[martinclan56]

Re: Proximity of handbrake cable to rear dampers

Normal I believe, this was Q67 during rebuild.

Robin you might like to think about reversing the top shocker bolts, the way yours are will make any future removal difficult !
I originally did them as yours, then Ben suggested turning them round

Yes - I thought about that. But, unless I slot the mounting holes there simply isn't enough room behind the brackets to fit a nut. As it is I had to shave about 1mm off the bolt heads. I have just enough room to get a spanner in as it stands.

Cheers, Robin

[martinclan56]

Re: Proximity of handbrake cable to rear dampers

I bought a morris marina cable it was too small

Hmm - perhaps it was the wrong one. This is the one I have.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234224591943?hash=item3688dfa447:g:22MAAOSwITpg~Ch~

[jon_cox]

Re: Proximity of handbrake cable to rear dampers

Hi Robin
I think your top damper brackets are the wrong way around. The build manual states the damper mounting holes should be closer to the outside as per the photo posted by dcunn above in post #4.
please double check.

[b_caswell]

Re: Proximity of handbrake cable to rear dampers

Hi Robin
I think your top damper brackets are the wrong way around. The build manual states the damper mounting holes should be closer to the outside as per the photo posted by dcunn above in post #4.
please double check.

My original suggestion to DCunn was fitting the bolt from the front to make changing the shock easier.
but jon you are mistaken DC top brackets are the wrong way round.
Top mount should be inboard following a natural angle from the bottom plate.

[martinclan56]

Re: Proximity of handbrake cable to rear dampers

My original suggestion to DCunn was fitting the bolt from the front to make changing the shock easier.
but jon you are mistaken DC top brackets are the wrong way round.
Top mount should be inboard following a natural angle from the bottom plate.

Ha - interesting. That's why I fitted mine inboard. But I checked the manual and it does indeed indicate they should be the other way round. I don't suppose it makes a terrific amount of difference either way.

Cheers, Robin

[jon_cox]

Re: Proximity of handbrake cable to rear dampers

My original suggestion to DCunn was fitting the bolt from the front to make changing the shock easier.
but jon you are incorrect DC top brackets are the wrong way round.
Top mount should be inboard following a natural angle from the bottom plate.

Interesting debate. I actually agree with you Ben and I believe this is the way they were fitted when on the original Marina / Ital donor car.
I was merely pointing out that the Later Marlin Roadster build manual suggests that they are fitted as per DC's picture. Maybe, the fact that the lower damper mounting plates have been swapped from side to side to position the dampers rearward of the axle (which incidentally is the reason the handbrake cable is so close as per the original topic of this thread) has altered the geometry slightly prompting Marlin / YKC to suggest the change in orientation?
I love the world of home built cars....

Shock mounting.JPG

[dcunn]

Re: Proximity of handbrake cable to rear dampers

FWIW - and as far as my aged grey cells can remember, those brackets had large and smaller bolts so could only ever have been
fitted the way they were.......unimportant anyway in the overall build.

[b_caswell]

Re: Proximity of handbrake cable to rear dampers

Interesting debate. I actually agree with you Ben and I believe this is the way they were fitted when on the original Marina / Ital donor car.
I was merely pointing out that the Later Marlin Roadster build manual suggests that they are fitted as per DC's picture. Maybe, the fact that the lower damper mounting plates have been swapped from side to side to position the dampers rearward of the axle (which incidentally is the reason the handbrake cable is so close as per the original topic of this thread) has altered the geometry slightly prompting Marlin / YKC to suggest the change in orientation?
I love the world of home built cars....

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my build manual didn't mention that