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MG MGF Technical - Problems after fitting new pads on rear

Lovely sunny Sunday – sadly my F returned from a short run on the back of a trailer.

Changed the rear pads for EBC green stuff to match the front at the weekend.

All went well with fitting so a lovely sunny day allowed me to go out driving to start to bed them in. I did not notice that the hand brake was not functioning correctly on the one side. Off I drive and after a while start to smell burning. Luckily pulled in before the smoke got too bad to restrict my rear view. Area got so hot it burnt the paint of the pads and my nice red lacquer off the calliper.

Sad drive home with the car behind a big green tow truck. On closer examination, the hand brake on the off side was not functioning or even moving by any amount. It seems it may have locked on, then over heated the brake. Think with the older thinner pads got away with the ‘locked’ on hand brake but with the new ones trouble !!

Getting the calliper / hand brake mechanism looked at tomorrow – but just a warning, check before you fit new pads etc not like me. Check that every thing is working around them not just that you fitted the pads correctly. EBC suggest replacing the pads again on that side as they don’t know what temperature they have now seen so won’t/cant’t guarantee the pads. I can see they can only say that to be honest. My feeling is they will be OK – even though they are no longer ‘green stuff’ now but I will see how they go. Pity to replace them after only 50 of driving especially as the web site say they are good for 750ºC use – and if the brakes got that hot the wheel would have been in trouble too.
Keith Williams

Firstly - replace them
secondly you did wind back the pistons with the special tool, rather than just pushing them back like on the front?
Will Munns

Ouch. Sorry to hear that Keith. :o(

I agree with Will - the over heating of the pads are likely to crack the pad material: they'll simply start to distintegrate. Not worth risking your safety over.

Will - the rear calliper pistons are screwed in. There is a special tool available - but as you can see Tim doing, you can get a set of adjustable mole grips on them to screw them back in.

Rear callipers are well known to seize if the car is mainly used in town and therefore gets only light work. Bad luck with the handbrake mechanism Keith - hope all will be sorted soon. Let us know what your garage finds...
Rob Bell

Cheers for your comments

I did use the correct tool to wind back the pistons - purchased same time as pads.

Think it was just bad luck that hand brake mechanism was faulty when I replaced pads. Over heating fault had nothing to do actually with the pad replacement other than it moved the pads back out to the original thickness catching the seized hand brake.

The garage (not MG main dealer) confirmed today that the calliper was seized on the hand brake operation - piston moved with foot brake pressure OK but hand brake cable did not effect it.

They are replacing the calliper and to be safe the disc tomorrow once the parts arrive. I will order a fresh set of pads and replace them but working in the braking business myself – 'planes not cars though' – do suspect they would be OK to use but as you suggest not worth the risk for the actual money. Would also be nice to get them back as 'green stuff' any way instead of the black colour they are now. The garage though are not worried at all about the pads and have not even suggested replacing them but I will.

Car is mainly used for town use but does get a good run most weekends. Does seem strange though, that things like a hand brake that gets regular use can seize up - but I know it does happens.

Hopefully will be back on the road tomorrow.

Keith
Keith Williams

This thread was discussed between 15/09/2003 and 16/09/2003

MG MGF Technical index

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