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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - hydraulic handbrake

Someone who has fitted one please help.

I can not blled mine up and I am almost convinced I have pipe it up back to front. Wish I had taken time to inspect the cylinder more carefully prior to filling with fluid and installing!!!

If I operate the hand brake with the brake pedal slightly depressed then the hand brake fights the brake pedal. If the brake pedal is in the normal rest position then I am convinced any action of the handbrake cylinder pushes fluid back up the main master cylinder.

So IMO

Either the cylinder is faulty? or I have the in and out reversed

Looking on top of the cylinder I have the pipe to the rear brakes fitted to the end opposite the actuating rod and the feed in from the front is to the top connection nearest the rod actuation which seems to be right?
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

Bob,

Not speaking from experience, just a suggestion...

Can you try cracking open the nuts where the pipes go onto the cylinder, just enough so the joints will weep, then you can see where the fluid is going when you move the lever?

Jonathan
Jonathan Severn

Bob
Im afraid you def have them connected the wrong way around, in this photo the front (larger) connection should be the supply in from the front of the car, and the smaller connection nearest to the actuating rod is the high pressure outlet going to the rear wheels.

I hope you have some surplus slack in the plumbing to reverse your connections... I dont which is why I havent turned mine up the normal way yet!
If you want to discuss call me on 07725 957969
Ian


Ian Webb '73 GAN5

Bob
Here is my completed installation; the front pipe is the pipe from the front of the car .....it has some blue paint on it because its the original front to rear pipe which has been shortened. The lower copper coloured pipe is a newly made up pipe to run from the Wilwood cylinder back to the flexi hose at the rear axle.
Ian


Ian Webb '73 GAN5

Hydraulic parking brakes as a sole means of operation are not acceptable on vehicles first used on or after 1 January 1968. However, they may be used to assist the application or release of a mechanical brake.

The above from the MOT manual make sure it legal or you will have spent time and money for no reason

Mike
Mike J Pearson

Thanks Ian been out, remade the pipes and now all is well, what a blooming awkward job.

Hi Jonathan I did slacken and look which is what convinced me I was wrong, just needed that little push from Ian to make me rip everything apart..

Mike it is not in place of the mechanical handbrake. :)
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

This thread was discussed on 12/02/2012

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.