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MG MGA - Hand/Parking brake cable route

Guys,
Does the hand (parking) brake cable go over or under the exhaust on it's route to the rear left hand side wheel?
On my car which ever route I try the cable appears to touch the exhaust pipe is this correct?
Once again thank you for your assistance.
Regards...John Bray
J Bray

In my Clausager there is a photo of the cut away Twin Cam chassis and it appears that the hand brake cable does run over the exhaust. It appears to be fairly close to the pipe, but would have more clearance with the weight of the body on the suspension.
Bill Young

John,

The mga twin cam should be similar to the pushrod car, even though the Twin Cam has rear disk brakes.
The MGA Twin Cam Service Parts List shows the hand brake cable closely following the left side rear axle tube. In fact it is attached to the tube. This would keep it clear of the exhaust pipe even when the body rises and falls with the suapension.
There is an Adobe Acrobat PDF file at:

http://www.angelfire.com/amiga/mga/images2/M04_Handbrake.pdf

Mick
Mick Anderson

John,

I think that the Parts List diagram is a bit misleading. There is a photo, again of a Twin Cam, in Chapter 4 of the John Price-Williams book "MGA First Of A New Line" (the new edition soft cover version is called just "The MGA").
This should be very similar to a pushrod car. The brake cable passes over the exhaust pipe.
Close examination of the photo shows that the cable has rubbed the paint off the exhaust pipe. Perhaps you should get points for originality in a Concours if your cable also scrapes some paint off the exhaust pipe!
If you do not have the book, I have loaded the photo to:

http://www.angelfire.com/amiga/mga/Brake_cable.jpg

Mick
Mick Anderson

John,

Strange! My link does not seem to work, even though the URL is correct.
You can either type the full URL address into your browser or go via the new URL below. (Note underscore character between Brake and cable if using the original URL).

http://www.angelfire.com/amiga/mga/index.html

Mick
Mick Anderson

John

I have just gone out in the rain to have a look under my car (had to be a bit careful to avoid kneeling in my suit!).

The cable on my car goes over the top of the exhaust system. There is no sign of the cable anywhere near the pipe, in fact I could not even see it. Does it pass over/by the silencer box or the pipe? I will make a better inspection tonight unless someone else provides the definitive answer before then.

I run a Falcon Stainless Steel system. All the brackets are standard and the rear springs were renewed last year.

Regards
Steve Gyles

John

I got my suit dirty at lunchtime! The 1500 with rear drums has the same cable run as that shown in the twin cam photos referred to above.

No fear of paint scrapes on my exhaust pipe because it isn't painted (didn't know they were). Also the cable is about 2.5cm above the pipe on my car.

The question must be then, have you got a non standard MGA exhaust pipe or have you assembled it incorrectly?

Steve
Steve Gyles

Mine rubs on the falcon exhaust, did on the old falcon system too. Rubs on every other MGA I have ever seen from underneath.
dominic

Thank you for your comments and observations, as a result of these I have been able to establish that the cable does go over the exhaust pipe and runs close to it. I believe the problem is compounded in my case as the car is on axle stands, when it finally goes back on its wheels that should raise the height of the cable relative to the exhaust.

Like Dominic and Steve I also run a stainless system which I believe is a Falcon. I fitted it early in the 1980's when they first came out, after 20+ years it still appears servicable although a little rorty.

Special thanks to Mick for the links and to Steve for getting his suit wet on my behalf. I have never worn a suit in the MGA as I find it's like riding my motorcycle, I always end up a little grubby at the end of the journey, Im not sure quite why, but my hands and face always need a wash where as they don't when I use the tin top.

Incidentally Steve when I need to look under the MGA I always take the seat squab out and kneel on that.

Regards and thank you...JOhn Bray
J Bray

John

I am worried now after reading the various comments that I have got too much cable clearance above the pipe! My Falcon exhaust is also 'rorty' - lovely tone.

I commute almost every day in the MGA, come rain,sun or snow. When it's raining I usually drape a towel across my lap to keep my suit dry! I found the feeling of grubbiness disappeared once I filled up every hole in the firewall and the gap between it and the outer skin up behind the instrument panel in the corners.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve,
I don't think you can have to much clearance between the exhaust and handbrake cable unless your having problems with the exhaust grounding. I suspect your mounting brackets are slightly different which allows the exhaust to hang a little lower giving greater clearance. The gap will also be influenced by both rear brake and handbrake cable adjustment the more slack there is in these the less the gap.

I remember the thread about filling in the bulkhead gaps, what did you finally use to seal the gap between the bulkhead and shroud?

I'm still impressed you can wear a suit in the MGA now Piers Brosnan has retired as Bond you may be able to audition for the new 007. Its about time Bond had a decent car.
Regards...John Bray
J Bray

This thread was discussed between 16/11/2004 and 21/11/2004

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