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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Rear disc conversion

Frontline or Peter May. Any view on the brake and the double bearing hubs kits welcome, and/or anyone selling a second hand set
Alex Sturgeon

No experience of rear discs, but we had problems after a track day with badly leaking rear hub seals, which had only done about 6,000 miles from new (bearings and seals).

Changed the hubs to Peter May's double bearing. 25,000 miles and quite a lot of track days with no problems at all.

This is on a 1380 Minor, which is a bit heavier than a Spridget, but still exactly the same rear axle bearing/seal set up.
Richard Wale

Anyone know if its viable to make your own double bearing hub?
Brad
B Richards

Wow, boy oh boy, my lucky day, I get to be the 1st to ask ...WHY?? LOL

is that 15% braking power being converted to disk really going to be that much benificial.....

Sorry..Like I can even ask that question..I got a RX7 rearend project lurking in my future.

But still...someone was going to ask it anyway, I just have the arrogent honor of being the 1st. LOL

prop
Prop

Prop

It's the double bearing rear hubs that is the real benefit of the conversion and not the disc brake part but the hub conversion wears (rubs) the springs in the org drum brakes, so if you have the double bearing hubs you are forced in to the discs. And with big power, a LSD, a RTL, and semi sticky tyres the only movement I am getting from the rear now is the movement from the org. hubs.

Look forward to being updated on your RX7 project.

Alex



Alex Sturgeon

Alex

Those are all good reasons, frankly, if its something you want to do, dont let others stop you...I was just being ounery,and jestful...as when this topic comes up...someone always shows up calling you crazy for doing this mod...frankly having disc brakes is really nice for making sure your car is still parked at the top of a hill 10 minutes later, and you never have to adjust them. worth the cost of admission right there....curious did you consider looking into bigger front brakes.

I got to build the engine 1st...then the rx7 rearend most likely in early spring

prop
Prop

let me take some photos of the stock axles I have twisted with my 78' midget with the 1275cc in it, I use one as a boot lid prop since I never installed the original boot lid prop. if I were to tear apart a midget and install a crazy engine I would change out the rear, otherwise mini-fins are enough for a rear end mod for me.
Stefan

Prop

And to be 100% honest that little disc brake set-up will look the tits though the 14' wheels. boys and toys.........

As to the fronts running 10 inch vents with wilwood calipers, and could recommend, stops in half the time (maybe not half but a lot quicker) and without little fade.

What was the findings on your engine problem? Read your first posting but not the outcome

Alex
Alex Sturgeon

No outcome yet alex,

still messing around trying to get the engine apart...pretty sure its a bearing on the crankshaft somewhere

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Prop

Brad,

I expect that would be all down to ones engineering and machining ability, mainly machining. I haven't seen a double bearing hub in the flesh but presume it would use the standard outer bearing and another bearing inboard whose inner race is seated on the oil seal diameter. IIRC the standard bearing is metric so with the diameter of the oil seal area known one could look for a suitable bearing, probably with the same OD as the standard one. Doesn't look like a big deal. Anyone know if the bearings are butted against one another or if they are spaced apart.
David Billington

both use a std bearing and a needle race on the oil seal face, guessing its a std needle roller (INA part), but have tried to reinvent the wheel before and to my cost have never saved any money. The Frontline kit does seem to have a better hand brake setup ??
Alex Sturgeon

Thanks Alex / David,

it's just i have access to quite a lot of machinery & what i can't do a mate could. If possible i prefer to do it myself just for the satisfaction of it rather than to save money.
Then again if i wanted to save money i'd have bought a Honda not a Sprite.
If i really wanted to save a lot of money then i wouldn't have a triumph either :-) but i got suckered in by those extra two cylinders.

cheers
Brad
B Richards

<<the hub conversion wears (rubs) the springs in the org drum brakes, so if you have the double bearing hubs you are forced in to the discs>>

I drilled an additional hole in each shoe to reposition the spring away from the larger outside diameter of the double bearing hub. Works fine.
Richard Wale

This thread was discussed between 15/10/2008 and 19/10/2008

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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