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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - Brake Master Reserve & Filler Cap

Those of us who are chronologically endowed know that checking/topping off MC brake fluid can be a chiropractic stress test. A while back Huib Bruijstens, of the Netherlands suggested a remote fluid reserve hidden in the tool box. Huib went as far as to tap a brake bolt and banjo into filler cap. I'm lining up winter projects and was intending to just tap into a filler cap and run 1/4" copper up to an open to the atmosphere reserve in the tool box. Anyone have an ideas, pictures or best of all spare/old filler caps or warnings.
Jon Levine

Bad Idea open to the air will allow moisture to contaminate the fluid leading tocorrosion of the master cylinder and wheel cylinders. Must be enclosed system
W. A. Chasser Jr

OK if bad to leave open to atmosphere as to enhance flow into MC would a plastic container similar to modern brake reservoirs with a gasket closed top work
Jon Levine

The plastic modern break reservoirs have a valve that does let atmosphere to enter IF the break fluid level lowers.
If you convert to DOT-5 (Not DOT-5A)exposure to some atmosphere should not matter.

Jim B.
JA Benjamin

The original cover of the master cylinder has a vent hole in it - It has to have a vent or the master cylinder will draw a vacuum as the fluid is moved around in the system - all brake systems have a vent in the master cylinder cover. Cheers - Dave
D W DuBois

Here's a photo of my set-up.
Regards
Declan


D Burns

And the connection at the M/C.



D Burns

Connection of the reservoir.


D Burns

Declan,

Your system looks nice, but I don't understand how it works. From your pictures I see that the addional tank is connected to the output of the master cylinder. In that case the fluid would be pushed into this tank when braking, unless you have a not return valve fitted in the line. Even so this tank would not act as an extended reservoir but more like an emergency fluid supply.
Am I missing something?

J Scragg

I agree don't see how it functions as reserve, here is Huib's picture of his connection. Also I also thought that the system was vented as to compensate for ue, that's why I felt system had to be open to atmosphere without regards to type of brake fluid


Jon Levine

Declan,

Your system looks nice, but I don't understand how it works. From your pictures I see that the addional tank is connected to the output of the master cylinder. In that case the fluid would be pushed into this tank when braking, unless you have a not return valve fitted in the line. Even so this tank would not act as an extended reservoir but more like an emergency fluid supply.
Am I missing something?

Yes indeed!

It does not connect into the output of the M/C. It connects into the blanking plug at the rear of the cylinder and has nothing to do with the braking. It works as an extended resevoir-think of an enlarged volumed M/C: The same effect would be achieved by connecting to the top cap.
Kits for this mod have been on the market for years and it is common practice on Morris Minors although some of the kits use a plastic hose which sweats.
My version is just an improved version (using Goodridge parts) of the Morris minor kit which is still available. The Morris also has the M/C under the floor. I have fitted my verion to my mate's Morris and he is delighted with it.

The photo below shows the output of the M/C as seen from below-it remains untouched. You can see the blanking plug just slightly to the right but behind it.

Regards
Declan


D Burns

Here's a link to the Morris Minor kit.
http://morrisminorspares.co.uk/shop/product_info.php?products_id=428&osCsid=03e63a2caeb5e56166bd40e2d76e94e4
It will not work on the TD with that stub on the blanking plug. That is why I used the Banjo to come out at 90° as there is not much space.
Declan
D Burns

Your last picture makes it a lot clearer. One more question: do you need to block the vent hole in the original filler cap? If not I would think that the fluid will drain out from it.
J Scragg

Yes you must block the vent hole or use a cap without the vent hole which are also available for this particular mod. It's a lot easier to do on the TD than the Morris Minor.
It's a mod I would highly recommend and I have had absolutely no problem with it what so ever.
One meter of the Goodridge braided Teflon brakhose is enough for the TD LHD.
Maybe I should make up a few kits!
Regards
Declan
D Burns

Now it's clear, is the blanking plug thread the same as the rest of braking system so as to use the standard TD banjo bolt
Jon Levine

Declan - I noticed in the link that you provided, that it says to only use with DOT 3 or 4 brake fluid, not to use silicon fluid. Do you know why they advise against silicon fluid? Cheers - Dave
D W DuBois

Jon,
I removed the solid blanking plug from the M/C and tapped it at 7/16"UNF in the lathe and purchaced a 7/16" Banjo bolt and two copper washers. The Banjo itself is a 7/16'' hole dash 4 fitting for Goodridge 600 hose.
We recently fitted the same on my mate's TD.
2 meters of hose did both cars-his is RHD but it makes no difference and makes life easier.

Dave,
They probably have enough problems with the plastic hose and I have never seen one that doesn't sweat on Morris Minors-maybe it's even worse with the silicon fluid. Who knows?


Declan
D Burns

This thread was discussed between 08/08/2014 and 09/08/2014

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.