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MG MGB Technical - master cylinder upgrade?

The brake master cylinder on my 70 roadster is getting balky so I am planning to replace. My question is whether I should consider upgrading to something with power assist. I will also be adding kevlar pads for better braking too.

There is no major problem with the brakes and I don't race or anything, but the pedal force required is high (think I'm just used to power brakes,) and the braking seems a little weak overall. Maybe the pads alone will do the trick.

This is probably and old subject, but any thoughts would be appreciated.

Mike
m.c. keel

If you can't lock the front on dry tarmac from *progressively* applying pressure there is defintely something wrong. Note that banging them on will lock them more easily.

Presumably you already have twin circuits, upgrading to the twin-circuit servo system is quite involved.

Note that increasing retardation at the front for the same pedal pressure by improving the disc to pad contact will actually *reduce* overall braking effort to some extent, as there will be less fluid pressure on the rears.

MGBs do need higher pedal pressures than modern cars (sometimes a lot more), even with the single-circuit servo which only adds very light assistance, you could just get used to it by driving it more :o)
Paul Hunt

Thanks Paul, good advice. I will replace the MC in-kind but will go ahead and add the better pads. Had not thought about the impact on the rears and overall braking, good point there, but I never felt like the rears add that much.

I read an earlier post saying that freeing up the rear mechanism helps greatly. I worked on mine and could not tell a big difference, but it may have been ok to begin with.

Driving more is the best idea, that goes to top of the list, even if the wife follows in her car.

Thanks,
Mike
m.c. keel

This thread was discussed between 22/11/2009 and 25/11/2009

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