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MG MGA - Run Out of Adjustment on rear drums

I have fairly unworn brake shoes on the rear of my 1600 and brand new (10" i/dia) drums.
Does anybody know why the adjusters have gone right round to the stop? I would have expected it to have plenty of adjustment still to go... Everything looks OK inside. Can something else wear out or drop off in there?
Pete
Pete Tipping

I had exactly the same problem, even with new shoes, I can only think that the original shoes had thicker pads, I made up a spacer that fits between the adjuster (held with a small tack weld) and piston (see photo), and that made for a big improvement they have been there for a good few hundred miles so far and touch wood I have had no problems, Vin


Vin Rafter

2


Vin Rafter

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Vin Rafter

Thanks Vin! - Looks like just what's needed. Have you got any idea of dimensions of your blocks? I could make these up with my wheels still on so to speak as at the full adjustment I'm just there at the moment and running.
Pete
Pete Tipping

I think its just 1/4 plate cut to the same or a nats smaller than the adjuster base, I don’t know if you have access to a welder but I would definitely recommend that the spacer be tacked to the adjuster to prevent the possibility of them becoming dislodged and causing problems, hope this helps, Vin
Vin Rafter

That's Great Vin - yes I reckon it would need to be that thick too - bit tricky estimating with piccies; a photo is still worth a 1000 words! Yes a welder is not too far away... Thanks again mate.
Pete
Pete Tipping

Funny Pete, that is exactly what I suggested on the MGOC BBS. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

I too have new brake shoes but old drums. I was assuming that my drums have run out and that I needed new ones. Spacing out the adjuster seems like cheating, but if you guys have new drums and shoes then it seems like a necessary fix. Would one of you fellows be kind enough to measure the inside diameter of your new drums so that I may compare with mine? That way I can better determine which course I need to follow. Thanks!

Mark
Mark J Michalak

I dont think that its funny at all,I dont know where I got the idea from but it seems an obvious fix to me,(Im not sure what the inferance is but I have just had a look at the MGOCC BBS and I can say that it cirtanly pre dates march 2010) Mark Im sorry I cant help my drums are not new, Vin
Vin Rafter

Mark
I measured my new ones for the same reason; admittedly only with a steel rule, but they appeared to be exactly 10" i/dia, which is quoted in the original specifications for the rear drums.
Dave
Yes you did and thanks again for that, but there was no mention of the combination of new shoes with new drums in your reply. Not a lot was happening on the MGOC site hence my similar posting here.
Cheers, Pete
Pete Tipping

I just ran into this same problem this weekend. So as we say in Ball-mer,
"Thank yous"
Dennis Suski

I replaced both the shoes and drums (Thinking my drums had been turned too many times). The new drums are exactly 10". I still have the same problem. With brand new everything, I am 3 clicks from the end of my adjustment. Seems a shame to have to modify new equipment, but looks like I'll be using Vin's suggestion as well.

Glen
Glen Perchie

Looks like the problem is caused by variation in the thickness of the lining material, I found this on Barney's site. http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/brakes/bt102.htm
Lindsay Sampford

This thread was discussed between 01/04/2010 and 06/04/2010

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