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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Rear Brake Backplate

Spent today fitting a 'new' brake backplate. The adjuster threads on old one had worn out. Cannot obtain a new backplate so had to fit a second hand one.
Learned a good tip to stop the brake fluid leaking (sorry if trying to teach old dogs etc)--use an old piece of brake pipe with a female end and bend over the open pipe end to make a seal. Attach this to your brake pipe when you take it off the cylinder. Care needed as it will try to poke your eye out when jamming your head between the rear arch and the backplate. How do folks with square wheel arches see what the hell is going on behind there?
Backplate nuts were a little tricky to get off, probably as a result of the recent fire (don't ask!).
Had usual problems with fitting brake shoes, having looked at past discussions I think they are on incorrectly but will remedy later. I put the actuating lever through the triangular hole rather than the slot---with some difficulty. There are conflicting drawings out there and I think I downloaded a wrong un to my phone for reference (Haynes being pretty useless for this issue). At least I have a functioning handbrake.
Attached the dreaded cylinder circlip whilst the backplate was on the bench so much easier than the last few times.
Also had the problem with the hub nuts catching the rubbers on the brake cylinder. Will see how it goes.
All back together and working with a slightly warm hub after a few miles---a wee bit more adjustment and all will be well---hopefully.
John.
P S Anyone taking a midget to the Bo'ness hillclimb this weekend?

J Sloan

I am going to Bo'ness Hillclimb Revival on Sun, but not in the Sprite as still rebuilding (on brakes at the moment).

Looks like a good Spridget entry list: http://www.bonesshillclimb.org.uk/documents/regs/printable%20entry%20list.%20V1%209.pdf

Anyone else coming to this great historic Motorsport event in Central Scotland this Sat and Sun? They are now running a free shuttle bus from Linlithgow Railway Station to the event, see: http://www.bonesshillclimb.org.uk/index.php

Good news on your brake fix.

Cheers
Mike

PS I did wonder at the joy of being to get your head very far into the wheel arch (square arch mine)
M Wood

When you put the circlip on with the back[plate on the bench make sure the circlip doesn't foul the part of the axle it bolts too. I did this and found where the circlip was a little bit of the circlip between the backplate and axle which caused the backplate to not be quite square with the axle. This caused the back of the wheel studs to catch the rubber dust seal on the brake slave cylinder.

Rob
Rob aka MG Moneypit

John does this help?



David Smith

First time in years I won't be at Bo'ness as I have to work this weekend. Gutted :-(
graeme jackson

Rob, I will check that out when I take the bloody shoes off again.

David, Excellent,that's my current understanding of the correct way to fit the shoes. I will remember it by; the handbrake actuator coming through the letter box slot and the wiggly end of the spring also at the letter box slot.

Bo'ness....aye,good midget/sprite entry. I will have a crack with them in the pits. I have a midget that would be suited to the hill climb game (1293,sccr dog box, weber, frontline front and rear) but you don't get much time on the hills for your money and you need a license, flameproof suit and helmet---will stick to the classic rallying for now. Must confess that we are attending in ,ahem,....our TR4---I look on it as a big Midget!

Has no one ever made a batch of new backplates---the second hand supply will run out sometime I guess.

Thanks for the help,
John S
J Sloan

I'll be at Bo'ness both days with my MGB GTV8 in the MGCC Caledonian Centre area. One of our lady members will be there with her newly completed WSM Midget. She will be competing on Sunday. There are lots of Midgets in the list. Among our members, George Cooper and Jock Millar will both be competing, and both are over 80 years old! Good on you guys.
Mike Howlett

Got around to refitting the brake shoes today in advance of using the car for the first time 'in anger' this weekend on a classic rally.
Used Daves diagram but still struggled a bit then it dawned on me that the top springs are handed. As the bottom springs are not handed I wrongly assumed that the top springs were also not handed. I am owning up to my dopeyness in the hope that others will remember to check that they have fitted them correctly.
John S
J Sloan

This thread was discussed between 02/09/2016 and 15/09/2016

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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