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 - rear brake drums: 1 hot, 1 not!

Hi,

Took my IOW frog for a pre-mot roadtest today and all seemed fine. Had a good look round the car afterwards and noticed the left rear brake drum was fairly hot to touch, but the right rear was just warm.
So, in all my prep work, do you think I have slightly overad-justed the rear left drum and underad-justed the right? Or could there be something else?
Car braked well and in a straight line.
Yokohama A drives feel excellent by the way.
Regards,

Andrew
aj robinson

You may have over-adjusted the left, or you may have a sticking wheel cylinder.
Dave O'Neill2

thanks dave. how do i check for a sticking wheel cylinder please?
aj robinson

Take the drum off and see if the cylinder will move in. If you can't do it manually try a G Clamp across it. Make sure the hand break is off and be careful not 'squash' anything else.

Like Dave said though it could be the adjustment so I would try slackening until no drag when jacked up first and re testing.
Dave Squire

thanks Dave and Dave, will try that.
aj robinson

The only other thing that would generate heat on one side is a wheel bearing, and you'd probably hear the grinding noise long before you noticed the heat.
Growler

Whilst the drum is off, just check also that the adjuster tappets (the wedge shaped plungers) are both free to move. Sometimes one or both stick so that although the adjuster cone is backed away from them they remain stuck and the brake shoe doesn't settle back away from the drum as it should.
Guy W

Hi,
No noise from rear drums and wheels turn smoothly. Will also check the wedges also, thanks Guy.
aj robinson

All checked and found left hand side slightly over adjusted. Everything fine now, thanks to everyone for the advice.
Passed MOT with NO advisories!!! (not even front wheel bearing play.......)
aj robinson

This thread was discussed between 30/09/2013 and 03/10/2013

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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