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MG MGF Technical - brake servo support bracket

Hi all
I bought the brake servo support bracket to B and G but i wonder now if it works on my VVC 1998 because i saw that i have the ABS system and in the
http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/ they show the brake servo on a non ABS mgf.
Do you know somebody (or maybe you) who install the brake servo support bracket on a VVC with ABS system ?
thanks for the reply
regards
pascandrea
pascandrea

I have ABS and can't see a problem in fitting the bracket. BUT I have not fitted it yet because of the air con unit under the dash and I have been to lazy!.
Andrew Regens

hi
thanks for the reply
so i will try tomorrow but how do you remove the black plastic, i try to remove it once so i removed the three nuts but i could not remove it, maybe there is an other clip or something like this, IS IT NOT?
regards
pascandrea
pascandrea

Pascandrea,

The brake servo support bracket will fit fine with ABS - at least on a right hand drive car! I have to admit I don't know whether there are any complications for a left hand drive car.

If I remember correctly the plastic cover has two more locating points at the bottom - just holes in the plastic that fit over locating pins in the area around the spare wheel - no nuts involved, you just pull the plastic cover off the locating pins.
Dave Livingstone

Hi
Thanks again for reply
i saw this "holes in the plastic" but for me the problem is that it want to stay on the car just over the brake servo, there is a small hole block with "something" inside and it stick to the car very strong there.anywhere else is remove from the body but not there
i'm afraid to pull to strong and that i brake the black plastic.
thanks again for helping me
regards
pascandrea
pascandrea

pascandrea,

Do this to remove cover intact,

1: remove spare wheel.
2: remove nuts on LHS of cover and lift up the plastic lugs and let them sit on top of the 2 bolts.
3: remove the bottom 2 nuts and lift plastic away from the bolts.
4: remove the plastic plug on RHS of cover (if there is one)
5: slowly push down and pull cover away from car at the top part.

It will then come away from firewall.

HTH.
Cheers,
Branko.
Branko

@pascandrea: we have fitted the LHD brake servo bracket succesfully on a LHD VVC with ABS. So don't worry it will fit.
Erik

Hi pascandrea,

If you have a look at step 2 and 3 of this link - http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/group2/DIY/suspension/howto_lower.htm#with - it shows Andy and I removing that shroud cover. It comes away pretty easily... perhaps I should put a dedicated page somewhere on the site for this procedure? It's just one of those jobs I've done so many times now that I don't even think about it!
Rob Bell

While we are throwing URL'sn, here's another one: http://www.mgtf.be/MO_TU_BR_bracket.html
Erik

Nice page there Erik (as usual!). Did you use a spreader plate on the inside of the bulkhead?

Can I link your LHD instructions from the RHD instructions (http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/group2/common_problems/brake_servo.htm ) on my site Erik?
Rob Bell

I'm stalled on fitting the bracket, finding the drilling of the bulkhead obstructed to the degree I need a 25cm or so HSS drill bit, which I've not been able to find anywhere. Or am I missing a cunning workaround?
Mike Hankin

Mike… I managed to get “long reach” pilot and main drills from a local tool merchant (not B&Q).

Rob… When I got my kit from B&G (over 12 months ago) it came with a spreader plate.
JohnB

I didn't have too much of a problem Mike - perhaps because I don't have ABS? What's the obstruction?

That's interesting! I think that the kit I got (obviously some while ago now) came with larger washers, but perhaps B&G have made changes after feedback (good for them!)
Rob Bell

John, your local merchants seem to be better than mine! Now that I know such things exist, I'll hunt some more.
Rob, you're probably right - the rigid brake pipes are the problem, and I suspect they take a less obstructive route on non-ABS cars.
Mike Hankin

>>> Did you use a spreader plate on the inside of the bulkhead? <<<
If that's the other black metal piece on this picture, then I did:
http://www.mgtf.be/images/MO_TU_BR_BrakeCilBracket_01.jpg

>>> Can I link your LHD instructions from the RHD instructions <<<
Yes, feel free.
Erik

Hi,

just to complete the story :)
http://www.mgfcar.de/brake_servo_bracket/index.htm

There's a small niggle with the LHD version bracket to be noticed.
See the picture linked above. Can be seen on Eriks site as well, but not mentioned.
http://www.mgtf.be/images/MO_TU_BR_BrakeCilBracket_05.jpg
The brake line running across over the bracket has restricted clearance to the installed bracket. It rubs on the bracket and corrosion can happen later.

I'd recommend to bend a slight curve to that line after you unbolt the brass joint part.

And ... enjoy the works position :)
http://www.mgfcar.de/brake_servo_bracket/brake_servo_DSC03340.JPG

Regards
Dieter

Dieter

I too have fitted the B & G bracket, about 2 months ago. Details should have gone up on my website, but my camera went 'feet in the air', I lost all the photos, had to get it repaired, and now have no time before heading off across Le Manche to sunnier climates.

Anyway, the point is, I too found that there was a serious fouling condition with the brake line across the top of the bracket. Unclipping them, along with undoing the mounting of the valve in the brake lines, gave me enough room to drill through the bulkhead, but you do need long reach drills, otherwise the drill chuck is liable to rub against the brake lines.

I'm very wary of 'adjusting' the routing of any brake pipe, since this can lead to leaks and breakage, (no pun intended), so I ground off a section on the top edge of the bracket to ensure plenty of clearance from the pipe going over that edge. It must be kept clear at all costs.

Tony

Tony Thompson

Hi all
Thanks a lot, you were all really usefull
I did the job yesterday but i was bothered by the black brake pipe who was just on the same level than the braket, so i cut (3cm/1cm) a little bit in the braket to leave a passage for the brake pipe (it's funny my black brake pipe wasn't on the same lavel then the black brake pipe that you can see with dieter, mine was under the body and i could not move it because i had an other one above and i didn't want to remove them and purge the system after that, for dieter the black brake pipe is over the body (look there http://www.mgfcar.de/brake_servo_bracket/brake_servo_DSC03317.JPG), after that i could install the braket and do the holes (8mm) but the upper bolt was just touching the black brake pipe, when i tight the bolt it came right again the braket and now the black brake pipe is hold between the body and the bolt and cannot move.
i hope i wont have any problem with this but i thing the black brake pipe is protect by a plastic at this area.
So if you have any suggestions to do for me.
i hope you could understand a little bit what i did.
regards
pascandrea
PS : i have pictures but i don't know how to put them in the BBS, thanks to help too for that.
pascandrea

I guess the big question is - was it worth it? Have you notice much of a difference in the braking after fitting the bracket?

Ian Matheson

> so i cut (3cm/1cm) a little bit in the braket to leave a passage for the brake pipe

Well done IMO :)
This rules out any problems mentioned above.

>the black brake pipe that you can see with dieter, mine was under the body

This pipe is the _vital_ vacuum pipe. Nothing covered inside but vacuum. It's most important to prevent the pipe from any leaks.
My advise:
Double check that the connection of the vacuum pipe to the brake servo (T-joint) is without any unwanted force. You get a real problem if it leaks or slips off.
The same priority is with the white coloured none return valve (or a filter??) and the black interconnection further down visible on this picture.
http://www.mgfcar.de/brake_servo_bracket/brake_servo_DSC03315.JPG

I need to say. I had to re-route the vacuum pipe different from standard already some years ago.
The reason for rerouting at my car is the LHD front bonnet box installed. I must put the pipe away and above the brake servo to provide clearance for this box.
:)
http://www.mgfcar.de/stau_box/dl_dk_dsc04600.html
The LH wall ...

@Ian,
>Have you notice much of a difference in the braking after fitting the bracket?

:) I don't know. I'm no race driver :) but the whole item doesn't move any more :)

Regards
Dieter
Dieter

I reckon it improves brake feel by 60-80% - but a lot of this improvement depends on how bad the servo movement had become before the modification. On my car, it was truely terrible - probably an indication of a lovingly abused MG! :o)

I've since added a further support bracket for the servo. If you look at the movement gifs on http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/group2/common_problems/brake_servo.htm you can see that the servo continues to move somewhat, from the top, and where the bulkhead actually moves in and out. The new additional support is a big benefit again, but 10% of movement remains.

I think that David had the best solution with a long triangulation bar from the wheel well to prevent movement.

IMO the B&G bracket is a very good start, and well worth fitting - but isn't quite the complete solution.
Rob Bell

Hi
@Ian,
>Have you notice much of a difference in the braking after fitting the bracket?
Yes i saw a big difference because after i have installed the bracket i did a ride in the hill and i try them very well, when i brake i don't feel the brake like before (it was "smooth") now it's firmly and the car has a better respond when i brake. i prefer the car like this.
@dieter
the only pipe who is squeezed again the body and the bolt is the black brake pipe (who is behind the beige pipe with a yellow dot), and not really tightly squeeze but it cannot move as before.the other ones are free of moving.
regards
pascandrea
pascandrea

This thread was discussed between 26/05/2005 and 31/05/2005

MG MGF Technical index

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