MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Handbrake lever bracket

At least on my car, the bracket that fixes to the transmission tunnel that the handbrake lever is fastened to, cracks. I have 3 cracked brackets I have in my spare parts. Having not long become the proud owner of a welder, I am going to weld the cracks in the brackets and paint them and keep one and sell (or try to) the other 2 on eBay, though they don't seem to be worth much money.

My question is whether the hole at each bottom corner actually does anything or is simply a product of the design of the metal being folded. I don't think it is a drain hole as on my car all that seems to build up behind the bottom of the bracket is oil, grease or general rubbish, but I don't have any carpets or sound deadening in the footwells.

So should I simply weld up that hole (actually more of an orifice) or leave it there?
Daniel

You do not say year of midget ?
Tim Carter

Do you have a photo? It’s a long time since I’ve seen one. Did it crack from the hole?

When I was building my last race car, I bought a new one from M*ss, as the original one had cracked. The captive nuts on the new one were in the wrong place, so I ended up welding the original one.
Dave O'Neill 2

Mine was cracked, so I welded it up. I seem to recall welding an extra bit of plate on the back to reinforce it, but with it bolted in place I cannot see what I did. I suspect the holes you refer to Daniel, are to stop it distorting when folded during manufacture. But I dont know.
GuyW

The bracket is for all years and the part number is 2A7291.

All 3 of my brackets had multiple cracks so I can't be certain where it cracked from first. They all have a crack running up from each corner and around the holes for the captive nuts.

I think you are right the holes (more like apertures) are just from the manufacturing and saved the cost of welding.

I'll take some photos tomorrow, though one has nasty welding already (I must have bought it secondhand), one is unmolested, and one has my welding on it, though has been tidied up).
Daniel

All 3 welded (and ground) up ok. I suppose I need to have a look at the one on the car now to see if it's cracked since I last checked it.





Daniel

Daniel, is that from all those handbrake turns on auto tests? LOL!!
A de Best

That thought hadn't occurred to me. There was a time when I regularly did a handbrake turn just for the fun of it, less so in recent years which might be why the current bracket hasn't cracked.
Daniel

I made one from 10mm plate. It's not cracked yet....
Rob Armstrong

Then your not trying hard enough Rob LOL!!
A de Best

This thread was discussed between 07/01/2024 and 13/01/2024

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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