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MG MGB Technical - Brake Master Cylinder

alright, so I got my brake master cylinder off and I unscrewed the reservoir. I suspect this is where it was leaking from as the area has a bunch of crusty brake fluid all over it. my question is: is there a gasket that goes between the cylinder and the plastic reservoir? there are the two rubber O rings on either side, but the area is so crusted over that I can't tell if there was once a gasket!
Chris

Chris,

The Bentley manual I have shows two "seals",a front and a back, but no gasket. I'm guessing the seals are the o-rings you have identified.

Cheers, Doug


Doug Keene

Chris;
I rebuilt my 76 master cylinder a few times. There are two black rubber seals that fit into a recessed area. They look like a thick faucet washer. No gasket.
The bottom of the reservoir on mine is slightly bowed in (permanently)but it still seals, barely I think. If things are that gruddy, you may want to think about rebuilding the internals while it is out of the car.
Pete H.
Pete Haburt

well I took the reservoir off and cleaned it all up... I had to grind off the crud with my dremel. bought some vaseline, coated the rubber seals, and put it back together. if I cover the two outlets and compress it, it holds air pressure - I think it just needed a thorough cleaning!
Chris

also, my next task is to get the pedal box frame sandblasted and repainted, along with the surrounding area on the bulkhead that it bolts to. if anyone has suggestions on how to clean up the bulkhead area to repaint, I need them! my dremel's not up to the job and I don't have a grinding wheel or anything of the sort. I'm anxious to put everything back on, now that I've salvaged a working clutch master cylinder from my parts MG.
Chris

I dipped my pedal box in diluted muriatic acid for a while after taking off what was left of the paint and then dipped it in a diluted baking soda mix to stop the acid, dried it with towels and then threw it in the oven at a low temp to dry it out as quickly as possible. I used silver POR 15 as a primer. The easiest way to clean up the bulkhead is with an electric 5" random orbital sander and 100 grit sandpaper. Great tool to have if you own a house and need to sand wood work or anything else. I used it to sand my heater box and it came out very nice. They're about $50.
Mike MaGee

Muriatic acid is hydrochloric acid if you are not in metalworking. Should be excellent rust remover as both ferrous and ferric chlorides are water soluble. I think it's sold for dealing with lime stains on brickwork if you can't get it anywhere else in UK. I've often seen 5 litre containers on the shelves of French supermarkets, but it's probably considered far too dangerous a purchase for the average UK citizen. Dilute acids splashed on clothing concentrate as they dry and eat holes in the fabric, so don't do this in the brand new MG logo overalls that were a present from the management. Rubber gloves and eye protection highly recommended.
Vic
V Todman

does anyone know where I can get muriatic acid in the US?
Chris

I see it commonnly in hardware stores, Home Depot, Lowe's, etc. It's used to clean brick and my dad uses it in his swimming pool (to help with the chemical balance)
willia mfox

ALSO - I don't have a paint gun or anything of the sort. does anyone know of a spray can of POR 15? if such a thing doesn't exist, would it be alright to temporarily use something like Rustoleum or some sort of Krylon paint until I DO have access to a paint shop?
Chris

This thread was discussed between 22/10/2003 and 24/10/2003

MG MGB Technical index

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