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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - 1500 MC ports

Hi all just need to confirm that the attached is correct i.e. primary is the front port and is connected to the front brakes etc. cheers



R W Bowers

You should see that one of the fluid reservoirs is larger than the other. The larger one feeds the front. Given the problem mentioned on the dashpot oil thread, I suggest you verify that you have the correct MC for the car. If the bore is too large it could make it hard to lock the wheels.

Charley
C R Huff

Gday Charley the MC is correct, the front reservoir only appears smaller, it is deeper.I believe they both have the same capacity. Conventional wisdom from other BBS's says that the front/primary port must feed the front brakes because it is directly connected to the brake push rod whilst the secondary/back (nearest to firewall) has a spring linkage allowing compression of the front piston then the rear. I quote all of this from other sources, mainly USA. Tbis post was to finally clear my MC as the culprit for the poor front brake action. Therefore it must be these green pads, which according to Nigel are generally not rated well in comparison tests.
Cheers
R W Bowers

I don't know that they would be the same, but I just looked at my 77 B, and the piston closest to the open end of the MC serves the front. That would be the one you marked as "Primary or Front" in your photo. My Sprite is not here to look at, but it isn't a 1500 anyway.

And, like you seem to be concluding, it probably is not the MC. Since both pistons are the same diameter, I suspect reversing the lines would cause a different problem rather than failing to lock up.

Charley
C R Huff

Yep it is definitely correct, so one more variable removed, next stop the pads
Thanks Charley
R W Bowers

Rod,
just to clarify - the green stuff pads were (are?) rated well in tests or certainly used to be years back, what my mate complained about years ago was the type of test conducted at the time (on tracks) weren't relevant to actual day to day road use

the compound of green-stuff pads could also have changed over the years making them more suitable for road use (I don't know if that is so or not)

my concern was that if you didn't know the age of the unused green stuff pads that they might have 'gone off'

personally, and others who know much more than me about this (the whole world and his wife), I don't think on a road only fairly standard midgets there is any need or benefit to having slotted discs (rotors) or drilled or combined - but if you have them you might as well use them

I know my mate used to sell slotted discs but that was for cars that were heavier and much quicker and faster than road only fairly standard Midgets
Nigel Atkins

ETA: also changing old, not much used, regardless of tread depth, tyres to improve braking, steering, handling, ride comfort and noise
Nigel Atkins

Nigel my tyres are OK for tread depth but are old, a cheapy brand and hard. I'll try bog standard pads and see what happens. FWIW I have ruled out the MC.
Cheers Rod
R W Bowers

Rod,
if you want to make any real use of those uprated, or any rotors, you'll want to change those tyres ASAP

cheapy brand may not be a problem if they weren't old - http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible.html

I don't know what it's like your end but over here very good quality tyres are very reasonably priced for Spridget sizes
Nigel Atkins

Nigel
You are correct,I can get say 165X75 for under 50 quid each here, but I've been hanging out to do a full wheel refurb or alloys and I don't want to be stuffing round changing tyres from one rim to another.
A cheap set of alloys has just been advertised in my car club these may be the trigger. cheers
all PS dashpot imbalance now cured front to rear weight distribution now spot on lol


R W Bowers

165/75 is as near as damn it but 165/70 the usual 'wide, low profile' choice back in the day as it just about keep the same rolling circumference, calculator half way down this page - http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible_pg4.html

might just be the contrast of the photo but that tyre's got a tired look about

might be photo again but what pressure are you running your tyres at?

PS - you've given me the dashpot level imbalance, one is very slightly lower than the other so I'm wait for it to catch up, I've not really been out for a full blown run since leading the Porsches for the morning
Nigel Atkins

Gday Nigel as always your observational powers are without peer, 29PSI and probably 10 years old.. Carbible is great thanks very much for the tip. Ive attached a photo of said dashpots for your perusal, cheers
PS you may wonder why I'm suddenly posting photos, I dusted off my old camera adjusted to it's lowest setting e.g. under 300K easy peasy. I say, take it easy with those porsche chappies egos are so easily damaged you know.


R W Bowers

This thread was discussed between 03/06/2013 and 08/06/2013

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.