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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Remote brake servo

Hi all,

I posted a thread last week re electronic ignition for our newly purchased 1970 midget(1275) but i don't think we're gonna need it just yet - the car starts fine with it's new battery. Anyway...

...I'm a bit of a novice but i'd like to fit a remote brake servo to 'beef up' the braking.

My wife is a bit wary of the sluggish feel to the stock brakes and I wonder if anyone could offer some advice. Is the midget a single or dual circuit braking system? Is it at all feasible? here's a link I found (sorry couldn't paste it properly)
http://shop1.actinicexpress.co.uk/shops/Rat_Sport/index.php?cat=Brake_Servo__Remote_&ActinicSID=a96398c97a548d736b6ae71ea2ce2985

Cheers

Darren
D Jones

I have a remote servo fitted to my Midget. Simple to fit and very cheap to buy, got mine second hand from an MGB. Whilst it will not improve braking, that as discussed in another thread is a function of Grip, it does make the brake pedal "feel2 the same as your modern road car.
A 1970 Midget will be a single line system. The servo installs directly into that first pipe from the master cylinder. Mine can just be seen in this picture from a year or two ago


Bob (robert) Midget Turbo

I agree with Bob, it definitely makes the brakes seem more modern in feel and is very easy to fit. When I got my frog it had one fitted, I removed it. 2 weeks later I refitted it, just didn't feel right when moving from my normal car to the frog.
Graham P

Thanks for the advice guys..BTW what are your thoughts on the said kit from Rat Sport - The link I posted?
cheers
Darren
D Jones

Looks to be identical to the one I have,made by AP, your only problem might be with a vacuum take off. Does your manifold have a suitable connection point for the vacuum take off?
Graham P

it seems priccy to me, Id do as bob did and get one off ebay for a MGB
Prop

Spridgets are such light cars, why fit a servo, i've never had a problem stopping

P.S I dont have one in the GT either still no probs stopping.
K Harris

Looks like the same one as i use. I would buy a new one though & fit a one way valve on the vac line.
I had one servo do a seal, sucked all my brake fluid out of the master cylinder & dumped it into the inlet manifold, not good.
Brad
B Richards

K Harris - the reason people fit a servo has nothing to do with stopping and this is just as well as the servo does nothing to change the efficiency or otherwise of the brakes. The whole point of fitting a servo is so that your Spridget feels much the same as the modern so that when you get from one to the other you neither think the brakes have failed or you lurch forward tightly restrained from passing through the windscreen by the seatbelts.

Some servos have a built in one-way valve on the vac inlet.
Daniel Thirteen-Twelve

God forbid that everything should feel and behave the same - the best tool for adapting between an old car and a modern one is the brain...
David Smith

Sorry never had a problem jumping from one car to another(Frog, BGT, Honda VTI, or the Defender or the Mrs's Golf TDI)
K Harris

Me neither - well except for the first few weeks of driving a citeron, jeze that thing has on/off braking.

But that said I am no fan of purists, if you want to change it then change it - that is one of the greatest things about Midgets!

meanwhile I've got to go now... MOT tomorrow and I need to do, errrm lots!
Will Munns

Thanks Guys,

Think i'm gonna go with the remote servo retrofit but does anyone have a photo of where the best place is to site the unit? (I think it's 6 or 7" in dia)
I can't site it near the existing master clutch/brake cylinders as the heater intake hose is in the way. Any ideas?

Regards

Dareen
D Jones

This thread was discussed between 09/08/2008 and 10/08/2008

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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