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MG MGB Technical - Rear Brakes 'Ticking'

Out for my first run of the new season. When braking, and almost to a stop, the rear brakes have developed a "ticking" noise. It does not seem to affect the ability of the brakes to function. Seems to be coming from the driver's side, and the rate of ticking changes with motion.
Had brake cylinders replaced last summer, and there are no leaks. Thought the shoes looked good, but will check that again this weekend.
Thanks for any hints/recommendations,
Pat
'73BGT
Patrick Callan

You need to raise each rear wheel in turn (safely), rotate it and listen. If you can hear it from the drum area then check the drum isn't rubbing the back-plate, and that shoe springs, retainers and handbrake levers are all present and correct. If it is still doing it with the drum off, and nothing is catching on the hub, then it could be something in the bearing. If it's not doing it with the wheel raised, and you have wire wheels, it could be a spoke or the splines i.e. only when there is weight on the wheel. But if its only under braking it's more likely something to do with the shoes and fittings. Could also be something further towards the diff, be very careful how you support the car if you turn the wheels with the engine running, and use a listening stick on the diff and the ends of the axles (bearing housings) rather than crawling underneath.
Paul Hunt 2010

Paul,
Thanks - good tips all.
No spokes, so I'll concentrate on the shoes and fittings. Don't hear it except when braking at a slow speed - like in a parking lot, or when I'm almost at a stop.
Doesn't sound like rubbing - just a very distict tick.
I'll also check all the hand brake fittings - have had some trouble there in the past.
It really sounds (as best I can tell from inside the car, anyway) like it is out at the brake - i.e. not centered.
Thanks again,
Pat
Patrick Callan

Check the hub is not catching the cylinder and that both steady springs are in place - both these produce a distinct ticking sound
Chris at Octarine Services

People frequently manage to put the various springs in using what they learned in Creative Flower Arrangements 101. One consequence is that the heads of the wheel studs just catch a spring as they go round: tick, tick, tick.
The WC replacement is pretty much a giveaway, and contrary to the law of averages,there's about a 90% chance the shoes are fitted wrongly too.

FRM
Fletcher R Millmore

I get a sort of ticking noise when going slowly (walking pace) ... the "MG" badges in the centre of my Rostyles are loose enough to slip about.
Geoff Everitt

I had very similar sounding symptoms which turned out to be that a brake shoe retaining clip and spring had come loose and were rolling around in the drum. Easily fixed that one!
Curtis Walker

Still working on it. No sound at all when I jack up the car and spin the wheel by hand. Nothing obvious inside the drum. May have to pull everything and reassemble one thing at a time - just to make sure.
Could u-joints give you a similar tick? Didn't think so, but it's probably time to re-grease them, too.
Anyway, these are all great suggestions. I'll add an "answer" if I ever find one.
Thanks all,
Pat
Patrick Callan

UJs can make noises, but that is more likely to change between accelerating and overrun than only happen under braking.
Paul Hunt 2010

Paul - thought I had that right. Took a passenger out today, to verify where the noise was coming from - we agreed it was the driver's side rear.
Removed the tire and drum. Everything looks good - no rubbing marks or sign of anything hitting metal.
All springs, etc. appear to be in the correct location, and secure.
Really baffled. Guess I'll try the opposite side, to make sure it's not one of those "transferred" noises.
Patrick Callan

Just check the hub nut too - the one with the split pin though it - do it with the wheel fitted but the wheel centre off and the wheel jacked off the ground - grab tyre in both hands and rock side to side - look for any movement of the hub on the shaft.
Chris at Octarine Services

Looks like you've done everything - except check the E-clip that
holds the brake cylinder to the backplate.

Determine that the E-clip is installed correctly and that it is applying spring pressure to the brake cylinder while holding it against the backplate.

If all looks good, try rotating the E-clip about 90º or thereabouts
and see if that does anything.
Daniel Wong

Hub nut looks good and secure. Will check the E-clip (when the weather improves again - can't do much in a very crowded garage). The cylinder didn't seem to have any movement when I had everything open yesterday.
After a short ride, I expected to hear the noise clearly as I slowed with brakes down the hill to my driveway - no noise. These inconsistent noises drive me crazy.
Still on the search.
Patrick Callan

Stone in the tyre??
Chris at Octarine Services

Like it!
Paul Hunt 2010

Checked the E-clip, tire treads, etc.
Looked at the shoes, springs, drums. All look fine - no rub marks of any kind and all wear looks normal. The shoes have plenty of tread on them, but they are not new, and were subject to a leaking cylinder - maybe I should just change them.
I even checked the passenger side to see if it might be a displaced noise.
Ride yesterday was quiet for most of the ride - then the clicking started, then went away.
If new shoes don't do the trick, I may have to take Paul's suggestion, and just "Like it." Or at least tune it out with louder music.
Patrick Callan

Have you checked the drum run-out, it may be a bit tricky. If you can't manage it in the normal postion, it might be posible to turn the drum round and make sure you clean up the mounting face and fasten the nuts up tight, it will be easier to get some sort of reading,but there is no garantee that it will be accurate using this method but it might show up a drum that is out of true.
john wright

My 'like it' was in response to Chris's suggestion it could be a stone in the tyre. However they don't come and go, except when drowned out by something louder.
Paul Hunt 2010

Haven't checked the run-out, but I haven't seen any signs that anything is rubbing or brushing anything.

Sorry Paul - my frustration was showing - I'm almost ready to think that "learn to like/overlook it" may be the way to go.

Is it possible that the shoes were somehow damaged by leaking brake fluid, and when cleaned up, look fine, but have some grabbing problem? I don't feel any pulsing or drag while braking.
Patrick Callan

If it's tending to grab it should become much more noticeable turning the wheel by hand as someone very slowly and gradually applies the footbrake.
Paul Hunt 2010

This thread was discussed between 20/03/2010 and 30/03/2010

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