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MG MGA - Brake shoes

I have just been trying to install new rear brake shoes which I bought from the MG Owners Club and guess what, they are still selling the ones that don't fit. With full snail adjustment the brake shoes just touch the drum.

Comparing the new one with the old half-worn ones the new ones are actually smaller than the ones I have taken off. They are going back but be warned, the MGOC are still selling the wrong size.

I have measured the drum and it is not worn.

Who in the UK is selling good brake shoes?

Malcolm
Malcolm Asquith

Can't comment on UK suppliers, but we have one vendor here in Rhode Island USA that sells, at least was selling, MGA brake shoes in a couple of thicknesses. You can reach out to Cecelia at Scarborough Faire; telly only at (401) 724-4200 (they are old school; no web presence). SF has a large presence here in the U.S. providing MGA parts, some of which they've designed themselves. Brake shoes are also a common issue here as many suppliers seem to sell the same undersized shoes and many owners resort to either shims or having their old shoes rebuilt/relined to proper spec. Good luck in the hunt.......
Nick Kopernik

Malcolm
I had a similiar problem. I added 4mm shims to the mask adjuster and they have worked great since I did it 6 years ago.
Take a look at John Twist's video that explains it
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2-0Vqje1LM&list=UU40j4KqUJPMVv4FQ29ro-xQ
Graham V

Malcolm,
I have also added shims to the adjusters but this is not great, given that the smaller radius of the shoes will result in a reduced contact area and less efficient braking. I wonder if the resellers have found a non-MG shoe that they regard as 'good enough', although I suspect they just got it wrong, given how often we get faulty parts.

Regards,
Mark
Mark Wellard

The brakes are back together with the old shoes which should last a few more months.

The adjsuter and mask is I beieve the same as the one fitted to the Morris Minor, they seem to have the same part number even though Minor brakes are smaller at 8 inches. There is available for the Minor a modified adjuster to take into account skimmed drums.

https://www.morrisminorspares.com/brakes-c42/front-brakes-c44/brake-shoe-adjuster-cam-mask-oversize-8-front-brakes-see-notes-p1238194

They claim to have 1/8 inch extra travel so it could be a partial solution.

A better solution would of course for suppliers to sell the correct item. If they don't know by now they are supplying wrong brake shoes they shouldn't be in business.


Malcolm Asquith

Like others I have been fitting spacers to my rear brakes although not to my 1500 front ones, presumably more adjustment in front with 2 adjusters in each wheel.

Does anyone in UK sell proper sized brake shoes?

Paul
Paul Dean

Do people try these days to get brake shoes relined?

My father had a busy workshop in the fifties to the eighties. Usually two or even three mechanics, and occasionally an apprentice too.
But one part of the business premises was dedicated to Brake and clutch service and supplies. There was equipment for machining disc rotors and brake drums and relining brake shoes. The linings were generally bonded rather than riveted, though both could be supplied. He supplied many local car and truck repair businesses.

Out of interest I just Googled the subject, and a NSW and a Victorian company cropped up:
https://burtbrosautomotive.com.au/brake-bonding-services/
https://www.sibre.com.au/brake-linings/relining/

Burt Brothers are long established and very well known. Obviously still trading.
T Aczel

Hi Tom, I've used Burt Bros. for decades, they have re-sleeved master and wheel cylinders, modified a clutch slave cylinder for a 5 speed conversion, machined brake drums and matched the brake shoes to the slightly larger diameter required. The cost of this work is usually cheaper than purchasing a new unit and the workmanship is first class. The majority of their workshop repairs appears to be for heavy vehicles but they have always had the parts I required in stock even for my MGA & TC. Give them a call or if you're in the Sydney area and need some parts it's worth dropping in to discuss your requirements.
I Hazeldine

Interesting about these Morris Adjuster Cams. I have had the same trouble for years now, even with new rear drums and exchange brake shoes. Yes it seems the brake material is just too thin. 6mm instead of 1/4"???
Have just sent off and received a pair (pictured) as mentioned by Malcolm above. Not attempted to fit them yet but am not convinced as to quite how the adjustment is going to work.
The pic shows the two, the left at minimum and at the right, turned as you can see, but only turned 45deg to the maximum possible lift.
I believe the mask is the same Pt No as on our MGAs but this cam cannot be right.
Anybody fitted these and any thoughts before attempting to fit them?
PeteT



PeteT

They don't look right. The MGA adjuster cam has teeth going almost 270 degrees around the Archimedes Spiral. Count the clicks as you turn it, and it should go up 18 clicks before it falls off the cam and goes back to zero. See here: http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/brakes/bt106.htm
Barney Gaylord

My apologies guys, Barney is quite right of course. I got that very wrong Here is another pic of these same adjusters now correctly positioned at their minimum and maximum heights. The adjustable lift range is 8mm rising up to 23mm.
I managed to get a wheel and drum off, this time without zeroing the adjuster, surprisingly the existing adjuster was pretty well in its mid position!
So, I have always had plenty of adjustment to go. To me it had always felt like it had run out of adjustment. Is this what others might have been thinking too?
As a result there was no need to fit these Morris Minor adjusters. Anybody know different?



PeteT

Such a strange mystery. I purchased some brake shoes from a local Moss re-seller. They were too thick and I had to grind them down.

I just replaced both drums and now they are a bit too thin.

How would one measure the appropriate thickness to be able to order from SF?
Tysen McCarthy

This thread was discussed between 03/04/2023 and 10/07/2023

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