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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - 1978 MG Midget braking problem

All new brake slave cylinders, new master cylinder, new flex lines. Brakes are bleed at all four wheels. Have zero braking action! Replaced new master cylinder with another new one and the same problem, no braking action. Need ideas?
Earl

Hi Earl. Have you adjusted up the rear brake shoes correctly?

With the handbrake (parking brake) fully released the shoes need to be set with as little clearance to the drums as possible. If anything err on the side of having them lightly scuffing as you turn the wheel by hand. The best way to achieve this is to jack the rear up so that both wheels are off the ground at the same time, and then adjust them, checking both sides so that you feel a similar amount of resistance. Light scuffing is best as they will then soon centre the shoes.

Sorry if this is already obvious to you, but it is a comon mistake to leave far too much clearance on the rear adjustment and this in turn will stop the front disc calipers from operating fully. This is easy to check first, but if not this then there is a number of other possibilities.


GuyW

Not sure its your problem but I think your car has dual circuit brakes and there is a specific sequence to bleeding and checking the shuttle valve is central.

I would have expected some brakes even if not centralised.

Do you have a copy of a workshop manual to check ?

If not I can post the relevant bit.

R.
richard b

This thread was discussed on 09/12/2019

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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