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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Brakes. Ugh!!!!!!

Used your help to get my two rear brake cylinders replaced. Completed that task and got everything back together.

Went to bleed the brakes and no pressure. Usually I have no problems bleeding. I had good hydraulic movement prior to replacing the cylinders.

Read through lots of posts on bleeding. Tried lots of things:

1) Normal method with brake pedal (thanks to my 15 year daughter who loved listening to me "pump, hold, release")

2) Left bleed open overnight to let bubbles move.

3) Tried using bike pump to put some pressure in the MC while leaving both bleeds open. Nothing moved.

4) Used a hand fluid transfer pump to try to suck fluid to the bleed nipples with top off the MC. Got a little fluid but really nothing.

The only thing I haven't tried is an Eezibleed system.

Wife is ready to push the car off the nearest cliff. Completely stumped.

Trig
Trig Lennard

Stand by. I think I've got things moving. I'll update shortly.
Trig Lennard

Trig, does your US spec. '79 car have one of those brake bias limiters on the rear brake line?
GuyW

Guy,

I am not sure what that is so I don't know. I finally got things moving and there was some sludge in the line. Trying to run fresh brake fluid throughout the system. Disconnected the lines from the cylinder and moving fluid that way. Then I'll reconnect.
Trig Lennard

Trig, it was a long shot. I have an idea that some US cars had some sort of limiter or compensation device and I wondered if that was preventing the fresh fluid from coming through.
But it sounds that you have fixed it, which is great. Well done you!
GuyW

looks like the sludge had worked its way to the cylinder and mucked up the cylinder and bleed valve. Took everything back apart and cleaned it out. Ran brake fluid through the line until it ran clear. Everything back together and it seems to be bleeding.

I'll check in the morning then give it a test drive.

Hope it works.

Trig
Trig Lennard

The U.S. versions came with a brake failure warning light that uses a valve body and small plunger that slides when pressure in the front circuit varies from the pressure in the rear circuit. The valve body can leak and gets mucked up with debris. It is actually very easy to remove the plunger and to replace the two O-rings on it. This is possibly where the fluid restriction was.
Glenn Mallory

This thread was discussed between 30/05/2020 and 31/05/2020

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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