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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 - Front Disc Brake Pads

I'm looking at new pads for the disc brakes on my 1960 Mk1. On Moss Europe they list the pads as basic, ceramic and green stuff uprated. Can anyone please advise about the differences between these 3 types and any operating experiences?
P Draycott

You need Mintex 1144
Art Pearse

Basic - standard/ordinary, no make given so generic, possibly what was available to correct purchase price and quantity to Moss at the time of their purchase or order.

Ceramic - to handle more heat, for heavy and more frequent braking use, higher speeds driving, less dust but more wearing on the discs. Without meaning to offend, the fact that you need to ask what they are suggests you probably don't need them.

Green stuff - uprated, less dust - many mixed reviews and opinions about their performance. Even though they are/were a local family business near to where I live me I've never used them.

I too use Mintex 1144 pads on my (road only use) midget and can recommend them and say they give improved performance over the standard pads. They work well from cold which many performance pads don't do so well being designed for high temperature use (fast/heavy road cars or lighter track use).

If you improve your front brake performance too much it will take the car's overall braking performance out of balance. Your rear brakes will need to be in good condition and full working order, serviced, cleaned and adjusted as required.

Don't forget the importance of routine and timely brake fluid changes.

And - very important for braking, steering, suspension, handling, road holding and noise and comfort - tyres.

Even if the tyres have lots of tread left on them if they're old and hard through age and/or lack of use they will effect the braking performance of the vehicle, and steering, suspension, handling, road holding and noise and comfort .

Photos of a tyre with lots of tread left and little use but old (old can be 6-8 years plus).

https://www.blackcircles.com/helpcentre/tyres/age-of-a-tyre







Nigel Atkins

I definitely agree with Art and Nigel about fitting Mintex M1144 pads, they are brilliant on an MGA.

Like Nigel says, they have instant bite from cold but I have found that they have a kind of progressive quality, where the braking effect seems to increase without you having to increase the brake pedal pressure. Its a very reassuring effect and I don't think I would fit any other type of pad material.

When I first replaced my brake pads, I replaced them with Greenstuff pads by mistake (I thought the original pads were Greenstuff ones, when they were actually Mintex).

I was not impressed with Greenstuff, they had no "bite" and even when they were hot, they needed more pedal pressure and still had nowhere near the performance of the Mintex 1144 type.

The only negative I have with the M1144 pad material is that they can suffer from brake squeal when used lightly, so they can be a bit noisy in towns etc. When used more firmly, there is no squeal.
You can fit some thin anti-squeal shims on the back of each pad to cure this.

So I have a set of almost new Greenstuff pads in my spares cupboard which I will never put back onto the car

I also have a set of M1144 rear brake shoes but I haven't ever got around to fitting them because the Front to Rear balance still seems to be pretty good as it is.

Colyn
Colyn Firth

Colyn,
different model and different car I know but I'm on my second set of 1144 on my Midget, one set with new discs the second not, and I can't remember having any squealing and I'm quite light on the brake pedal normally feeding it in.

When I had my B roadster it had very noticeable and embarrassing audible brake warning, tried all sorts to get rid of it and it didn't then one day it disappeared never to return.
Nigel Atkins

I agree about the Greenstuff ones - a couple of friends in our club had tried them and said the same - it seems they are meant for track days and work best when used hot.
Cam Cunningham

This thread was discussed between 08/06/2020 and 15/06/2020

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