MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Disc Brake Dust Cover Washers

I am in immediate need of four (4) distance washers that are used to space the front disc brake (Lockheed) dust cover off of the steering knuckle on the MGA 1600 / 1600 MkII. If you have original samples and can provide the dimensions (O.D., I.D., and thickness) that would be very helpful. If you have extra original distance washers in good/excellent condition and would be interested to sell four or more, please let me know (Please see Parts Wanted.)
Steve K

I uesed a couple of lock washers to space them when I put them on my 1960 A. Nothing fancy but it worked.
Steve Bryan

Todd Clarke at Clarke spares sells them.

Steve
Steve Brandt

Steve and Steve, thanks for your suggestions, Steve.

By making some measurements I conclude that the size of the distance pieces should be about OD: 0.720, ID: 0.386, thickness: 0.200+ . The thickness I estimate is close to the thickness of two split washers (OD: ~0.680, ID: ~0.410, t: ~0.100") and only a bit less than the Clarke Spares part (OD: ~0.625, ID: ~0.395, t: ~0.230"), which appears to be cut from an extruded pipe/tube - though I don't know for sure.

I prefer to use a hardened, closed (not split) flat washer, as the bolts that hold the dust cover are the same bolts that secure the caliper adapter plate to the steering knuckle. Any loss of tension on these bolts will result in the adapter plate rotating about the spindle, banging up against the bolts, and elongating the holes in the adapter plate with each application of the brakes (clunk). (That's a repair that's much more expensive than the amount saved in reduced wear on the inner brake pads.)

In the absence of originals, the solution I plan to use is to replace each original distance washer with a stack of three (3) grade 8 3/8" flat washers (OD: 0.812" ID: 0.410, t: 0.067") with the one closest to the dust cover ground down to an OD of 0.720" to fit within the shallow recess in the dust cover. The standard 3/8" washer diameter will just fit within the counterbore on the steering knuckle and so don't need to modified.
Steve K

STEVE I HAVE MY FRONT SUSPENSIONS APART BECAUSE I AM RESTORING MGA MKII AND WENT TO THE GARAGE TO MEASURE THE FOUR WASHERS OF EACH SIDE HERE ARE THE DIMS OD .745 INCHES----- ID .420 INCHES---- THICKNESS .183 INCHES HOPE THAT THIS MIGHT HELP YOU IF YOU KNOW A MACHINE SHOP THEY COULD MAKE YOU SOME OR A HOBBYIST WITH A SMALL LATHE AND MAT'L SSTL,HOT ROLLED STEEL OR DRILL ROD OR COLD ROLLED STEEL, AL. IS TO SOFT AND SALTSPRAY OR WATER [CONDENSATE/WATER] WILL CORODE AND ALSO DIELECTRIC COROSION BECAUSE OF DESIMILAR MAT'L NAMELY STEEL AND AL.I HOPE THIS COULD BE OF SOME HELP TO YOU.GERRY
GERRY DIEPERING

This thread was discussed between 30/07/2007 and 04/08/2007

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.