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MG MGB Technical - Brakes pulling to left

My '77B just started a new trick. When we initially hit the brakes, the car gives a pull to the left. Nothing felt in the steering wheel, it just goes that way. But as we start to get to where the brakes are grabbing with any force, the pulling goes away and the brakes work fine and it otherwise stops straight. They seem to release without a problem. I'm thinking that one or both pistons in the right caliper is hanging up a bit as the pressure is coming on. Does this make sense? My guess is a rebuild with new pistons all around is in order. Is this the right direction to go in or am I missing something?
Thanks,
Mark Rotsky
Mark Rotsky

I'd suggest bleeding the right side before doing anything else. Sounds like the left side is engaging before the right, could be air in the right side line.
Try simple and cheap first. Check fluid level. look for leaks anywhere.
TDHoward

I'd jack up the front and have someone gently apply brakes and manually rotate wheels and see if one is locking early. Make sure they release well too. Check the bearings for play and the steering while the car is off the ground. Look for leaks too. Do the same with the rears. That should give you an idea of what is happening.
I'd do what TD says after. Before you tear it apart try a quick bleed to see if that fixes it.
John A

Many years ago pulling to one side on braking was caused by the lever arm damper that side having no hydraulic fluid due to a leaking seal. Replacing the damper cured it, and incidentally was one of only two things (excluding tyres, battery, exhaust etc., the other thing was the interior light bulb) that failed in six years and 65k miles in a Morris Marina.

The brake balance warning light should indicate if one side has air in and not the other. Raising the front and slowly applying the brakes while two other people rotate the wheel and shout when it locks would detect a sticking brake piston, but maybe not if the brake hose on the side it was pulling from was breaking down internally and not letting pressure in initially. You say 'hit' the brakes. What difference, if any, is there in gradual application as opposed to banging them on?
Paul Hunt

Mark, just last Saturday I had the same problem only to the right on my'77. The problem: A clogged brake line flex hose. New hoses and it acts like a new front end, nice a straight when you hit the peddle. With the front end in the air, try to spin the wheel with your foot. One side spins freely while the other acts like its dragging? The cause is excess fliud not being released in the caliper "alas a clogged hose". The're old and they begin to collapse from within. FWIW
victor gardino

Forgive my digression, but this one's for TD Howard. I'm in SW Virginia and there just aren't a heck of alot of MG folk out here. Where in SWVA are you?

Starving for company,
Allen
Allen Bachelder

I would definitely look closely at the three rubber flex lines (2 front, one back) in the brake system. They may be ready for replacement. Also see if the front pads are moving smoothly or if one has gotten a bit cock-eyed. And check adjustment of the rear brakes; they don't have auto-adjusters.
Tom

Mark,
Had similar experience but mine was pulling right and put in new flexible front brake hoses and pads even though my pads didn't seem quite far enough along to require it, they were getting close. Cleaned up my problems and stops very straight now. Particularly important to replace the hoses if you haven't and don't know their age. Eliminates problems later. Would check what the other guys say first and do pads/hoses last. Still not difficult or expensive. Don't need to change hoses often and think I could do pads in 1/2 hour the 2nd time... and another 1/2 hours for the hoses....isn't that always the case.

JTB
J.T. Bamford

Sorry I haven't responded until now. I haven't had time to put into the MG. Hopefully this weekend I'll get to it. By "hitting" the brake, I mean the initial push on the peddle. It now always seems to be there regardless of how gently we push or bang on it. Of course, the faster we hit it, the quicker the event occurs and goes away. I've actually started to wonder if the problem isn't with the rear brakes since the steering wheel doesn't get jerked out of our hands at all. It's almost more of a sensation of going left than a real turn. But it's definitely there. I just have to put some time aside to sort it out. Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll have a few places to start before things get pulled apart.
Mark
Mark Rotsky

This thread was discussed between 05/09/2003 and 12/09/2003

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