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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Rear brake springs HELP!

I've got the midget complete, and I’m struggling to adjust the handbrake correctly, (followed haynes manual by having the adjusters wound in)

anyway....

Half the problem is the handbrake "arms" which pass through the backplates are sticking on. Pull the handbrake, let the handbrake off and the arms stay where they are, leaving the drums locked on solid.

It seems to be where the arm is riveted for the pivot, this part is catching on the coiled part of the top shoe returning spring.

I’ve read the springs go behind the shoes so I presume I have them in the correct position.

What can I do? Also the bent "tail" of the spring is also touching the handbrake arm, surely this is creating some un-needed resistance too?





D Tetley

another pic


D Tetley

another....


D Tetley

I'm not sure of your exact problem, but I think you've got the forward shoe on upside down.
Trevor Jessie

Trevor is correct about 1 shoe being upside down. I also think its the forward one.

I think the other problem is that the top springs are handed, or sided nad you have the wrong side on. The stait part between the 2 spring ends should face in. You can see in your last pic that it faces out towards the wheel.

I just finished my rear brakes and made the same mistake on my 1st try.

I think the tail will still touch the e-brake lever. kind of lock it in place.

Phil
Phil

My dad did mention that to me, but I was presuming the slots I've marked in the pic were for the handbrake linkage to pass through? I'll flip over the leading shoe (can see your right in the haynes pic) but the linkage is still catching the spring.

I was wondering if the "tail" on the left of the top spring was ment to pass through the hole in the handbrake linkage arm?


D Tetley

Phil, Didnt see your post before I replied.

I will go swap the springs over now!
D Tetley

Think you'll find better adjustment (and brake effort) when you've spun the ls over. Also think the spring should pass through the hole, but haven't always done this myself (depends on how easily the job has gone - sometimes v easy, sometimes, for no reason(!) not!).

You need to apply the brakes hard a couple of times during adjustment to make sure everything 'centres'.

A
Anthony Cutler

How about this?

The only problem is the top spring was bending around the hub, I've given it a shove and its now behind the hub, doesnt look right?

I seem to remember the tail was pointing downwards now, I didnt expect them to be handed!


D Tetley

another...


D Tetley

You had the rear shoe placed correctly in the first set of photos. The end of the spring should appear exactly as shown... with the handbrake lever coming through the slot (not the D-shaped hole), with the spring end pressing up against the arm's bottom for some reason.

The shoes should be oriented as seen in the last set of pics, but with the upper spring the other way around, with the straight part inwards, as mentioned.

And yeah, this can be a pain. When I replace my shoes, I always take the old ones out and lie them on the garage floor just as they came out, to use as a reference for the new ones.

Good luck!

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

Is this correct?


Trevor Jessie

Trevor, Thats exactly how mine are now. They work fine now but the handbrake is fully adjusted to get 4 clicks! Thats with a new cable and new handbrake arms, weird?

D Tetley

Have you adjusted the shoes? After the high spots have rubbed away!

AndyB
Andy Borris

Andy,
not really, i changed my old hand brake cables because i was out of adjustment, the new one was exactly the same. I ended up making the handbrake rods adjustable which has helped a lot.
Brad (Sprite IV 1380)

In Trevors photo the shoes/E-brake are correct.
I'm not as sure he has the right/left spring. IIRC the spring will orient in, away fron the wheel.

!!In any event, make sure the hub turns freely and does not foul with the return spring or the friction will quickly break the spring!!

Phil
Phil

BTW, I stole that photo from another forum.
Trevor Jessie

This thread was discussed on 28/07/2009

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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