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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Brake Master cylinder rebuild 1500

Hi All,
The brakes on the other half's midget totally failed today, I've yet to look at the car but I'm guessing its the master cyl which has failed as we werent satisfied we got all the air out last time we blead the brakes, so perhaps the seals were leaking for a while and gave up today.

Anyway its a '78 1500. According to the moss catalogue "for a breif period in 77-78 a brake master cylinder with a plastic remote reservoir was used (type 2) necessitating a pedal box with a bracket to hold the reservoir. After this time dual line brakes were fitted to all 1500's using a new m/cyl with integral plastic reservoir (type 3)"

Now this midget has a remote reservoir and dual circuit brakes.... so im confused?

Anyway what are the potential problems when rebuilding a dual circuit m/cyl? I had a quick read regarding a rather hard to get circlip and a nylon piston which is a bugg*r to remove. Can someone elaborate, ideally more step by step, as I'd like to get the job done without too many hitches as the cars (was) in daily use.

Many thanks
D Tetley

Well now I feel silly, Its a "type 2" m/cyl, one union out of the back but its got a single banjo coming off to the O/S front.

What I cant understand is I've looked at the car quickly, theres pleanty of fluid in the reservoir, and the brakes work fine! The other half promises she had NO brakes and the pedal went nearly to the floor with little resistance!!
D Tetley

Did she press the right pedal? ;o)
Dave O'Neill 2

I said that and got a slap!
D Tetley

How old are the flexible hoses.

eddie
Eddie Cairns

Eddie, They were replaced before the MOT, about 3 months ago, as were the rear slave cyl's and the rear flexi pipe. I'm going to put new seals in the master cylinder and get a eezi bleed to do a better job, just to be on the safe side.
D Tetley

Sounds like the master cylinder as you say.

Daft things but possible problems well probably not!

The rear shoes have possibly worn or the drums were worn above the limit of their max diameter and the pistons came out during braking, Just once sounds daft but is there any fluid leaking there.

Your front disks are not worn and your pads have lots of meat on them. My Impreza Turbo at 30,000 miles and second set of pads virtually stopped braking but, a new set of front disks and pads and one new caliper had them working lots better.

They did not look that bad when stripped down.

eddie
Eddie Cairns

This thread was discussed between 02/02/2010 and 03/02/2010

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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