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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Front brake hoses rubbing.

I'm pretty sure there was a post or complete thread recently, about front brake hoses rubbing, where a frontline suspension had been installed.

Did I imagine it?

Anyway, that for some reason I don't get, is what's srarted happening to mine, some 25 years or more after I did the alteration.

The hoses come straight out of the inner wing, instead of as originally at 90 degrees via the bracket under the front shock.

Hoses are rubbing on the rim of the wheel.

As a very temporary fix, until I fit new hoses, I put sections of heater hose round the brake hoses, between the brake calliper and brake hose, which moves the hose away from the wheel. But I've never had do anything at all before.

I've bought new hoses, but putting a twist in them seems nigh on impossible. They just don't twist.

So what's the solution?

Not something I've encountered before, so how do I flex/deflect the hoses away from the wheels? Springs? A bracket?





anamnesis

Had the same issue with my old racer-There's two different setups with midgets -
Brake hoses in front of the shocker through a bracket that can be bent/angled to suit -
Or brake hoses through the panel behind the shocker pointing straight out.
Mine was the latter--I made up a pair of 45deg.angled brackets that got riveted on about 40mm or so below the original panel hole---opened the hole up so the brake line nut could pass through then fitted the flex hose up through the 45'bracket,fitted the locknut and recurved the steel tube to get the pipe/nut to line up with the top of the end of the flex hose---This made the flex hose into more of an S shape that cleared everything.
If yours is coming straight out through the panel maybe that could be your fix, or if it's only just touching maybe a bit of a rework of the panel might be enough to point the hose downwards enough----------??

willy
William Revit

Yep, that's it Willy.

Sounds like your fix would work on mine too.

Odd though that mine hasn't rubbed until very recently. I can't see what's changed to make it rub.


anamnesis

Do you have the brake hose bracket which dictates the angle that the hose connects to the caliper?


Dave O'Neill 2

The trick is to give the hose a slight twist when tightening up the clamp nuts. Maybe 1/4 turn. The hose will then set in an arc, clearing the wheel and tyre, but still flex freely with the suspension and steering. Just needs a little experimenting to get the set right.
GuyW

Thanks Dave. No I have a different shaped bracket. Looks perfect.

Guy yes I'm sure I remember doing that, but these qh hoses really don't seem like they want to be twisted. I'll give it a try though when I fit them.




anamnesis

It's only a little bit of a twist, Anamn. I said a 1/4 turn but it's probably not nearly that much. Just a slight roll with your fingers.

Which reminds of me 16 year old. 'helping' at the dodgems when the fair came to town. Jumping from one to the other collecting fares, holding the power pole and rolling a ciggy, one handed in one of those little roller machines. Oh so cool! Never did like smoking though!
GuyW

Ha yeah. I remember those blokes on fairground rides Guy. Hopping from one car to the next; esp' if there were birds in the car, to 'ave a butcher's at a bit of skirt. 😅😅

Can you imagine the elf n safety uproar if they did that today? 🤣🤣🤣.



anamnesis

This thread was discussed between 23/05/2026 and 24/05/2026

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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