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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Brake servo

Never having driven anything but a servo-assisted modern car my wife's reaction to the frog's brakes has been "bl**dy hell there's no brakes!". Even after driving a while she still finds them too heavy so I have decided the only solution is some servo assistance.

Brakes are a disc/drum setup, with original frog master cylinder. Braking is good, I'm content with it, but the pedal does need a good hard shove and as a lightly built 5'2" (the wife) she finds it too heavy.

Obvious location for a servo is on the passenger side by the wiper motor but I'm wondering about the best way to run the pipes from the master to servo and back to the multi-way connector. Across behind the battery looks an obvious route but I'd worry about corrosion from battery gasses. Anyone done this and can advise on best routing for pipes?

dennis


D Stanfield

Hi Dennis,

There are books with this sort of stuff in...

On my car only the pipes run just under the lip and under where the heater box sits.


Daniel Thirteen-Twelve

thats just how it was done on my 72 midget. All was ok.
Mick - trying to sort the wiring

LHD cars have hydraulic pipes above and behind the battery - they 'usually' don't get eaten. The bigger problem is that the high section gets air trapped in it and it's a bugger to bleed. One of the reasons clutches are so hard to bleed, at least for LHD cars. I run the pipes in front of the heater box, on the ledge.

FRM
Fletcher R Millmore

Dennis,

I agree moving from the modern over servo'd cars to spridgets takes so much getting use to ! - just laying my foot on my Golf pedal has it standing on its nose !

So I fitted a servo not sure of the ratio - but sold for Midgets/mini's by Moss and its a great assistance - no actual increase in stopping power - just gives maximum with much less effort etc.

A couple of pics in case you don't have Daniels book as yet (good read though).

R.


richard boobier

And another :-


richard boobier

Along the ledge in front of the heater box it is then. Thanks guys.

dennis
D Stanfield

My pipes were run EXACTLY as Richard's are.
The addition of a servo was I think the easiest modification I have done to my car and whilst as you say braking is not improved the feel of the brake pedal is now spot on.
I used an old MGB unit and have had no problems in the 4 years or so that it has been installed
The run across the front of the heater must be the easiest and most straightforward as so many have done this without reference to anyone else.. :)
Bob Turbo Midget England

Hi Dennis where abouts are you.
gary knowles

Tell her, that, in addition to no power steering, it's cheaper than a work-out in the gym!!!

It's possible that she might still not like it, even after the servo, some people still find it doesn't stop in time, have you considered putting some MGB discs on, then the MGB servo? Or equivalent ...!
rachmacb

I ran my lines on the bulkhead, saves squishing them when removing the gearbox.
I must ask why you are letting your wife drive your car though?
Brad (Sprite IV 1380)

i am amazed that no one has picked up on the fact you have a frogeye!

presumably it started life a a drumbrake car and has been converted to disks later.
now there is one big diffrence i those setups other than the disks!

the drumbrake setup has a 7/8"bore master cylinder and de disk setup has a 3/4"bore master cylinder.

mis matching can result in a rather heavy pedal.

so first check if you have the correct setup befor you go messing with it
Onno Könemann

I've servoed Drum/Drum cars before. What Onno says is correct though I'd expect even if the conversion has been correctly you'll still be wanting to fit a servo.

After the last time I drove a modern car the brake pedal on my Sprite WITH A SERVO felt so hard I had to check the servo was working (it was).
Daniel Thirteen-Twelve

Onno -
What did the man say? First post, 2nd para, 1st sentence.

FRM
Fletcher R Millmore

ooo Onno you bad boy!!!
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

so the checking is not needed just the changing to the proper size then ;)

new glasses have been ordered and will arrive the 29th
Onno Könemann

Hi folks, thanks for all the suggestions, sorry I've been away from computer for a couple of days.

Onno,
I know you're right about the master-cylinder size and the heavier pedal, but I went with the original m/c, less the partial pressure valve, to see whether that was ok for me - and save a bit of cash. I'm happy with it, I drive several old cars plus a modern, all are different and adjusting becomes just part of the fun.

Gary,
I'm in Portadown & Belfast, where are you?

Brad,
Lines on the bulkhead? did you run them behind/above the battery? Why do I let my wife drive it? I'm guessing you aren't married.


dennis
D Stanfield

Hi Dennis
sorry been away for a few days live and work in Lisburn for translink beside Laganvalley.
Gary


gary knowles

Hi Gary,

Afraid I've been computerless in BT for a few days, office laptop won't let me on line to the board, back home now. Hope to have the frog or the elan to the Argory on 24th April and the Classic Car get together at Sprucefield on 25th. You doing either of these?

By the way, NIR background here also, father, brother and even me for a while many years ago.

dennis
D Stanfield

Denis,
my lines are above the battery out of harms way but it does need an easybleed to get all the air out.
The wife driving my the mad Sprite, ummm, let me think about that for a second...err, no.
Brad (Sprite IV 1380)

This thread was discussed between 17/03/2010 and 26/03/2010

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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