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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Frogeye Brake Shoes

Hi All.

What's today's choice of brake shoes? I've been trying to fit some Unipart Lockheed front shoes (straw-coloured material), and they won't fit. They're the last of my new old stock shoes, so I need to choose a manufacturer.

Sorry to be so long away. Family and stuff.
Nick and Cherry Scoop

Good to have you back Nick 😊
Sorry no idea about current shoe choices, others will have though!
Jeremy MkIII

Contact Questmead (Mintex) who will re-line your shoes with a material suitable to your useage.
Alan Anstead

Thank you, Alan.
Are the modern offerings from usual suppliers really that bad?
Nick and Cherry Scoop

Hi Nick. Good to 'see' you back here again. I hope all is well with you.

I fitted modern shoes for a mini on the rear brakes of mine. I got them from Minimania. The shoes are slightly wider, which is what I wanted but other than that difference they fitted nicely and seemed well made. Presumably the early mini drum brake fronts would also fit your Sprite fronts?
GuyW

I cannot comment upon modern offerings from the usual suppliers as the set I took off were years old and still serviceable.
I just felt that an upgrade would help with dealing with the dynamics of modern day driving.


Alan Anstead

Thanks Guy. Good idea - Mini shoes.
I must say, though, the idea of relining appeals to me. The shoes themselves are perfectly serviceable, and it would mean a job for somebody in the UK rather than in China.
Nick and Cherry Scoop

Incidentally, I may get the Lockheeds to fit after all. The shoulder of the wheel cylinder is preventing centring of the shoe, and I have a big file.
Nick and Cherry Scoop

Like this.

Nick and Cherry Scoop

Everyone needs a big file🥲...
Jeremy MkIII

Nick

It's good to hear from you and I'm glad the Axminster is still in place!
Bill Bretherton

Oh Nick, what unusual arms you have!
GuyW

Thank you Bill. Yes - I so value the Axminster, as the knees lose their internal padding.

I guess you mean my frontline kit, Guy. It's been on there for some years, but I'm only just starting to experiment with the twelve click adjustment.
To be frank, it's always felt a bit dead. I liked the Sprite's lively front end.

When I was at school 60 years ago, Jeremy. we learned about something called a bastard file, and in every metalwork lesson after that, there was only one possible answer when Mr Hinchcliffe asked us which tool we would use for a particular job. It only lasted for one lesson, and after that we rationed it, according to who didn't mind getting clouted.
Nick and Cherry Scoop

Ah, a frontline upper arm. I've not taken much interest in those frontline set ups. I was just concious it appeared to be different from the normal arm with its pinch bollt arrangement.
GuyW

Aaah the bastard file. I too remember those and have a couple like that and scores of spanners as well, you know the 'where did I put that bastard spanner' - the ones used with coarse threads obviously.
Jeremy MkIII

Just to finish off:-
That filing seems to have done the trick. The drum went on easily, and I managed to get two clicks top and bottom. The file has gone back to the heap it lives on, where it will be on the top - at least for a while.

I've taken Cherry down the hill and round the roundabouts, and she's pulling up sharp and straight.

I know I should take the rear drums off, but I'm not feeling strong enough yet, and it's summer.
Nick and Cherry Scoop

This thread was discussed between 17/06/2023 and 26/06/2023

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