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MG MGB Technical - Bringing an B back from the dead....now the brakes

hi all , I posted here last week about getting an engine started after a 2-3 year rest. Many thanks for the replies and good news.....it all started fine. With oil , coolant and a charged battery , I was able to let it run and run. Left it idling for about 20 mins, oil pressure up at 50 ( i think !) , and temp gauge climbed to just over half-way , fan came on and sat between 1/3 and 1/2. I was very chuffed I must say.

Now.....being new to all this I need more advice! The brake cylinder was empty so I refilled it and , well , I get pressure when I pump the pedal a few times and then it goes again. In fact the revs drop a little when I pump , is this normal ?

Where should I start to look to get these bad-boys working. I am assuming I have a leak someplace ( as there was no fluid in there ). Should I bleed first or , well , what??!


Again , many thanks for the replies.

Ps : It does need a new front inner wing though , bugger! This I know will be a few hundred quid. Oh well , I need a hobby.
daryl

Where is the fluid going, for a start, but if the engine slows when the pedal is applied it could be going into the engine due to bad servo seals.
Paul Hunt

Probably time to go through the entire brake system, as well. What good is a car that goes, if it won't stop reliably?
R. L Carleen

Whilst you are at it I'd take off the drums and have a look inside. My car had been serviced at the right mileage intervals and kept in a dry garage but covering very few miles/year. There was enough rust built up inside to stop the shoes touching the drums. I'd recommend an Ezibleed when you renew the brake fluid, not least because it becomes a one person job.

Vic
V Todman

thanks for the info guys .... I was thinking it was the servo , but with that logic I would have thought there would be some liquid in the air pipe connected to the bottom of the servo. I checked the engine end of the pipe for traces of fluid, but there was none. The servo end is a real pain to get out so I left it for the mo. Started her up and pumped the pedal like a maniac for about 5 minutes ( well not me , rather my girlfriend's daughter did that ! ). Removed the hose again and it was bone dry. So....may not be the server after all. So on saturday I will bleed the lot and see what happens then. Of course the weather is meant to be 27 degrees here on Saturday so I might just end up in the garden with a beer.
Daryl

This thread was discussed between 08/07/2003 and 10/07/2003

MG MGB Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGB Technical BBS is active now.