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MG MGB Technical - Brakes (or lack of!)

Hi All,

Just rolled the MGB out after the winter, to find that the brake pedal goes all the way to the floor, with no resistance and obviously the car doesn't slow down!
It's a single circuit system with a remote servo. There's plenty of fluid in the reservoir, and the callipers and wheel cylinders don't seem to be leaking. In addition to this, the brakes were working fine when I tucked it away.
Can any of you lot give me some general pointers or tests I can carry out to try and track the problem down?
Any help would be, as ever, much appreciated.

Regards... Phil.
Phil

Maybe your brake master cylinder seals have failed, try bleeding one of the brakes to see if you can get fluid to flow. No fluid - no pressure from the master cylinder. A point to start.
Hilary Rose

Yes , sounds like master cylinder . You should be OK with a seal kit , I can't rememder doing anything special to clean the bore , although I have been told fine steel wool will work. The idea is to get a honing effect where the tip of the seal is lubricated . If any rubber attaches to the bore (e.g after standing all winter ) then it will tear off and you will not get pressure .
Every weekend in the winter I actuate the clutch brakes hand brake and minor controls , and switch on the radio to keep those vintage electrolytics formed.
S Best

Probably the internal seals in the master are shot and it doesn't necessarily have to leak and ruin your paint to have a bad master.
mike magee

This thread was discussed on 18/05/2004

MG MGB Technical index

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