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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - problems with wire wheel brake disk replacement

I am new at MG midget repair so bare with me.

I tried replacing my 73 Midget disks today and quickly discovered that the disks are bolted to the hub and that I need a puller to remove the assembly (after which I presume that I chuck the old disk in a vice or something and unbolt the two from each other).

Any way, the first problem that I encountered was the removal of the dust cover that has to be pulled out from inside of the hub before you can get to the castle nut. On one side I could just pull it out with my fingers.

both of them had been a little damaged by previous people trying to pull them out by grabbing them with the wrong tool and messing up the threads. I was able to straighten them out with a thread chaser.

I have not yet been able to get the right side one out. I decided to get a long 5/16 fine thread bolt and screw a 1 inch long coupler onto the end of it and then screw that onto the dust cup but the hardware store only had a course thread one. So I tried putting two nuts at the end of the bolt. I manged to screw it on to a couple of threads on the dust cup. I really pulled on it hard and could not get it out. Then I clamped some vice grips onto the end of it and tried wrenching it around and I could not budget it. Then I tried pulling it out by connecting it to a dent puller and I could not get it out (my setup kept braking). I will try harder to find a fine thread coupler.

Anyway, it seems to me that this little thing could not be hard to get out and someone must have jammed it on too hard.

My next problem is how to pull off the hub. I can see what the tool in the manual looks like and I don't have one.

Can I just put a socket (with something around it to keep it centered) over the end of the loosened castle nut such that it sticks out beyond the end of the axle about 1/4 inch and then crank on the knockoff nut. Then whack it. Will this be enough to pull the hub off or do I need to find a better tool?

I hope that the torque for this castle nut is in the manual some where (did not look yet).

Since I have to pull this off in order to change the disk I should do everything else that should be done if the hub is pulled off. What would this be other than re-pack the bearings. What parts should I replace. The bearings seems smooth when I turn the wheel so I am expecting that they are ok but need cleaning and re-packing. Is there a seal that needs replacing? Anything else?
Any advice for re-installation?

Thanks,
I thought I would have this job done by now but it is taking a lot longer than expected.

I am used to working on American cars. I like my little Midget but it is amazing how many different tools are needed for what seems like a small job. I don't think that I have nearly as many tools to put away after working on my other cars. ;)

Cheers,
Thanks,
Rebecca
R Harvey

Rebecca -
Your tale of the dust cover is excruciating, but you have the idea. Moss sell a (overpriced) tool. Your car may have a long sleeve nut or three holding a pipe or hose to the top of the thermostat housing; you could steal that. You could find someone with spare late MGB or Spridget bits that has the similar sleeve nut that is 3/8-24 on one end and 5/16-24 on the other, used as head stud nuts on some cars. These sleeve nuts don't seem to be shown in Moss listings and they vary by years and cars - I look at too many cars to remember exactly which have them. You could get somebody to weld a nut onto a piece of pipe or bar, or drill and tap a bar to make a puller. Depends on facilities.
You are correct, it shouldn't be that hard, someone has boogered it. Might want to get new ones for reassembly!

I've taken hundreds of hubs off and used a puller maybe thrice; don't even remember where my factory one is. Generally a smart whack on the back of the disc with a soft hammer is all it takes. The knock off/spacer is good backup plan.

If your hub/bearings all seem in order, do as little as possible. Don't get dirt in the works! If you've been following the interminable wheel bearing threads, you'll see why. After the fun of removing the split pin, Mark the castle nut position with a punch and note whether the split pin is vertical or horizontal, put it back the same way. It's not quite kosher, but if the bearings and grease look OK, just push some new grease in the bearings. If you remove the seal you will need to replace it, and removing the bearings is tricky and likely to damage them. Obviously, if the bearings look nasty you have to take it all apart.

FRM
Fletcher R Millmore

As FRM says, a puller is rarely necessary.

I would be tempted to replace the seal.

I think that the sleeve nuts are possibly only on some US-spec cars, so don't waste too much time looking fir them ;o)

There are sleeve nuts holding the quarterlights in place, although you don't really want to have to dismantle a door to get one.
Dave O'Neill 2

This thread was discussed on 12/04/2010

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