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MG MG Y Type - Brake Disaster Averted

While re-greasing the pedal box components today of YA3936 I make a horrifying discovery which could have led to disaster. So I thought I should relate the saga so everyone is aware of how little things can cause BIG trouble.

The clamp bolt for the brake lever on first inspection worried me because it had a brass nut - 1st step to disaster.

Upon removing the bolt it was a full thread bolt, undersize, so it was not locking into the grouve in the shaft - 2nd step to disaster.

Then when I cleaned the bolt I found it was mild steel, BSW, bent and stretched - 3rd, 4th & 5th step to disaster.

If this bolt had failed and the lever rotated on the shaft - hey presto - no brakes !!. And you can bet it would have happened at the worst possible time and place.

The offending bolt has been replaced with a new tensile shanked bolt of correct size and secured with a spring washer and new nyloc nut. Disaster averted.

PS - I also replaced the lock bolt on the brake pedal as well - it was a 50+ year old original.
Tony Slattery

This is well worth telling us all. I had a similar experience just after getting my car, mainly due to bodging. Another problem I recently had was when I fitted a new master cylinder to my YB supplied by a well known company. The brake pedal after bleeding would go only part way down. Great you might think but this was when the wheel nipple was still open! I wasn't happy so I took the brake pipe off the rear of the m/c and a little fluid dribbled out but the pedal was still firm half way down. Took the thing off and dismantled it only to find that the small rubber cup which forms part of the valve at the oulet end was cocked to one side and mostly blocking the port. Reassembled correctly and brakes all ok. I told the suppliers by e-mail a week ago but no reply. I should think there are more stories!
Ted Gardner

I notice a "vibrating" steering wheel at 50 mph and up to around 60...Not bad but still a bit wobbly..Not too much play in the wheel to speak of and it is just irritating..Could this be balancing of the wire wheels problem?...Thanks for any enlightenment.
marvin soroken

If you get the wheels checked for "true" they may be a bit bent. I have reshaped one with a fair amount of trouble but Les Schwab (or the CA equivalent) can probably do a much better job Marvin
Paul Barrow

thanks Paul...apprciate your input and I will check it out next week...
marvin soroken

Tony - Aren't the mechanical skills and knowledge of DPOs a marvel? One wonders what they have gone on to spread around the world after they finished with your Y. Good find - better fix! cheers - Dave
David DuBois

This thread was discussed between 28/11/2006 and 02/12/2006

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