MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Handbrake adjust

Hi Chaps and Chapesses,

All going fine with brakes except I need advice re hand brake.

The rear brakes are adjusted up fine and work good. The handbrake works good but the handle when it is on is very upright. Almost straight up. I do not need to use excessive force to apply it, or take it off, all linkages and cables for the handbrake are well greased and all work fine. The question is what is acceptable for the MOT? and if the present working is not how to adjust.

So does the hand brake mounting point at the rear of the transmission tunnel allow for adjusting the hand brake handle travel? The car is way up at the rear on axle stands so I can get to it easily however it is very very covered in underseal and no doubt the monting nuts are seized under that so if there is some other easier place for ajustment inside the car I would at this point prefer to go for that.

Thanks in advance, Dave

Dave Squire - Notts

has it always been like that? has a PO had it apart or has the car been 'restored'? In the handbrake lever mechanism there's an arm that mounts on an elongated cutout, I think it's possible to fit it the wrong way rond so the lever angle is incorrect and gives the vertical handbrake effect.
David Smith

There have been other things the wrong way (the points low voltage connection causing a short and no spark) so yes the PO has done stuff while it was off the road previously.
How far up does yours come when on? (45 degrees?) just thinking of a rough guide.
I will get my head around the lever mechanism.
Tonights light read.

Thanks David.
Dave Squire - Notts

A 'best-adjusted' handbrake with all good components should be locked tight on 4 clicks, that's just under 45 degrees IIRC.
David Smith

And yes, the adjuster at the rear of the tunnel is what you want. You said that the rear brakes are adjusted correctly, so that cable adjuster should be the next step.

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

If it's the original cable, you may find it's been stretched over it's many years of service. So even after pulling up the slack with new linkages, and adjusting the cable, a new one might solve the problem.

I was amazed to see how much my original cable had stretched without braking.

How about the hand brake rods? Are they the adjustable type?

Lawrence Slater

That was it Gryf,
Removal of rust and underseal, application of plus gas and grease. It adjusted as far as it will go without coming off the thread and its spot on.
A step nearer.
Pity a bleed nipple snapped and upset my momentum (together with someone shunting the parked day car) otherwise I was almost there. Another 2 more weekends to the MOT, probably, if all goes well. Now if my mate can only find those extractors ......
Thanks for all your help.
Dave Squire - Notts

photo: this small device cracked, it took a while to find out ( the dirt and oil and so on)

Flip

Flip Brühl

Thats the one Flip, it was on mine, just buried in *!&^ (dirt).
Dave Squire - Notts

This thread was discussed between 14/10/2012 and 24/10/2012

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS now