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MG MGB Technical - Right rear wheel not turning

I have my 'B on stands. I noticed today that the left rear wheel turns but the right wheel is frozen. Is the a brake problem or a rear end problem? The rear end is the banjo style.
Mike

Mike...You might try backing off the brake adjuster a bit to see if that frees things up. Was the car driveable before going on the stands?
Steve
Steve Brooks

The car has been off the road for about 2 years, brake pedal goes to the floor. I was able to roll the car around however.
Mike Griswold

Mike. Follow Steve's advice and back off the adjuster first. Also make sure the parking brake is off. If, after doing both of these things, the wheel does not turn, pull the wheel and brake drum, then try to turn the axle. That will tell you if you have frozen brakes on the right side or if there are other problems. Also make sure the car is out of gear. Les
Les Bengtson

Mike -
I would go a little further that what Les advised and remove both rear drums as a matter of course. If the car has been off the road for 2 years, and the pedal goes to the floor, I would be keen to check the rear brake cylinders for leaks, or corrosion anyway.

Ian F
Ian Fraser

If the car was parked two years ago with the handbrake set, the brake shoes may have rusted to the drum. This is why it not recommeneded to set the handbrake when putting a car up for the winter. The same thing can happen to the clutch. It can rust to the flywheel.
Paul Noble

"right wheel frozen" and "I was able to roll the car around" don't seem to hang together. Doesn't sound frozen, just a bit stiff.
Paul Hunt

I was able to move the car around BEFORE the wheel became frozen. A little more clear now?
Mike

I had the same problem with my project, which had been sitting outside for several years. I could roll the car a couple of feet, but no more. The culprit was a rusted brake drum, which created a tight spot. I removed the drum with hammer and pry bars and the axle turns freely now.
Ed Wood

Are you sure you are not just describing the action of the differential?
philip may

The car is in neutral, emergency brake off. The right wheel won't turn, the left will. That is what I'm describing. It didn't do this until recently. The car is in the air, sitting on axle stands.
Mike

Mike. Pull the right rear wheel and brake drum and find out what the problem is. Les
Les Bengtson

Thanks for the tips everyone. I'll pull the wheel and drum and see what's up.
Mike Griswold

If the shoes are frozen on you won't be able to pull the drum without releasing them, by which time the drum will rotate ...

You almost always have to back off the adjuster in any case unless the drums have no wear groove. Check the handbrake cables from the pivot on the diff to the back-plates first. The configuration of this is such that if the lever siezes on the pivot the RH brake locks on but the LH doesn't. i.e. the RH cable will be taut and the LH loose. Handbrake off, of course.
Paul Hunt

This thread was discussed between 10/12/2001 and 13/12/2001

MG MGB Technical index

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