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MG MGB Technical - Master Cylinder Paint?

Dear all

I've just got around to rebuilding my old clutch and brake master cylinders. Bores look good so will get the rebuild kits.

My question is what to do with the outside of the reservoirs. I have shot balst them and they look good. I am wondering whether they should now painted silvre or were they origianlly galvanized. What have others done?

Richard
Richard Evans

Since you mention blasting both cans I'm assuming you have an early car with one each square and round can for the brakes and clutch respectivly.

Originaly, they were gold cad plated. (Fellow anal Maury Drummond taught me that!). I blasted mine and then did a progressive wire brushing till a polished luster returned. Finished with aluminium polish for final shine. I wouldn't paint them for my own taste but I suppose you could--esp if you're using silicone brake fluid. just my 2 bits
Paul Hanley

Frosts Restoration www.frost.co.uk sell a transparent gold that is supposed to mimic colour of the cadmium plating. I only cleaned up my master cylinder with a wire brush, so some of the corroded areas were rather dull. I was rather disappointed as these areas showed up through the paint as a different yellow. However once the servo was back in place it did not look so bad. Seems to have lasted OK too, so it may work well on a sand blasted surface.

Vic
V Todman

Thanks guys. I'll try polish and search the frost catalogue.
Richard Evans

It looks like it is called Anodised Metal Tint. I'll try to get some.
Richard Evans


I recently took my master and brake cylinders apart. I cleaned the bores with very fine sand paper and submitted the reservoirs, along with fastners, fixtures, door hinges to be zinc plated. It came out really well, looks authentic and they have genuine rust preventative properties. Wasn't expensive: all in for 30euro, but that was very cheap.

It's worth considering and is less trouble than painting. Just ensure that all deep rust has been removed, minor rust will be removed by the acid preparation at the plating company.

Good luck,
Brian
Brian McIlvenna

It's cadmium or zinc plated with a yellow chromate conversion. Here in the states they don't plate too often w/cadmium as it's environmentally unfriendly.

BTW, chromate conversions come in many colors from clear to a green that looks black. Chromate protects the zinc. It's a dip after the plating process.
Mike MaGee

As two of mine had perforated, whether from rust spots on the outside or condensation on the inside I don't know, I gave the replacemnts several coats of a clear laquer.
Paul Hunt

Unless you are using silicon fluid any painted surface will deteriorate if some fluid gets on. Have you thought of powder coating these? Not too expensive and safe with most fluids.
Bill Young

Here is what I did for the record:

Bores are very good. Outside was tatty with rust and minor pitting.

Shot blast the reservoir and cylinder in my blast cabinet (aluminium oxide powder). This left the finish dull.

Then I used the little wire brush fitting on my Dremel. Went over all surfaces which shined them up like new.

Then two coats of clear laquer.

Excellent results. Perhaps not concours standard because of the pitting but very good otherwise.

I will now store them in platic bags with a silica gel bag until fitting time.

Richard
Richard Evans

Laquer is useless w/brake fluid. You should get them powdercoated or use a POR15 clear paint.
Mike MaGee

This thread was discussed between 21/09/2004 and 27/09/2004

MG MGB Technical index

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