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MG MG Y Type - Brake pedal return spring

Can anyone advise me how to get to and reattach the brake pedal return spring which is inside the master cylinder mounting box on the chassis.
Many thanks
J R Luard

With great difficulty without a pit or lift..it can be done but it is very awkward!
D MULLEN

David is correct - it is hard without a pit or hoist ... but not impossible.

When you say "get" do you mean purchase? If so then I think NTG will be able to help you if you have a Y or a YT. If you have a YB then the options may be wider as it is the same as a TD. It may also be the same part throughout, but I am not 100% on that.

As to fitting access is the key. The higher up you can get the vehicle the better and easier it is. Help of a colleague is also useful. Tools - 3/16w socket to remove the cover, and one pair of long nosed, medium length handled pliers.

Attach the static end first - from memory I think that attaches to the box itself. Set the spring up so that the open part of the hook on the pedal end is pointing out outside of the car (i.e. into the pedal box and away from you).

Then with a pair of long nosed pliers and a colleague to hold the pedal steady, with a head mounted flash light (so you can see what you are doing) stretch the spring and pop the hook into the hole on the bottom of the pedal. Once it is caught dont worry about immediately pressing it home. Relax, let go of it and reposition your pliers on the spring and with the co-worker holding the pedal firm work the hook through the hole and out the other side.

Before replacing the cover I alway ensure that a gasket is fitted. Easiest way to do this is to go to your local tire store and get them to give you an old car tire inner tube that is shot through, and using the metal cover as a template (or the one in the Parts Drawings page on http://www.mgytypes.org as a template if you dont have a cover as you will need to make a cover too!) cut out the quadilateral shape and make four holes in it for the screw bolts. I use rubber just beacuse you want to make a nice waterproof and dirt proof seal.

Replace the gasket, and the cover.

Remember - NEVER work under a vehicle solely supported on either the Jackalls or hydraulic floor jacks or jacks of any kind. The car must be securely raised at all times. Safety Fast.

Paul
Paul Barrow

I Cheated! the problems I had trying to re-attach the spring without a pit or hoist don't bear thinking about, potential divorce proceedings, not to mention the damage to hands and fingers.
My solution- drill a 3/16 inch (4mm) hole in line with the hole in the brake pedal shaft. attach one end of the spring to the shaft, the other end to a 3/16 inch (4mm) split pin, poke the split pin through the newly drilled hole, put a suitable size washer over the split pin, bring the pedal ever so slightly back so the is some slack in the split pin, open it up and bend so it is tight. Job done, even the brake light switch works!
Dave
D P Jones

Very many thanks. I don't have a pit or hoist and the air around the car is already blue so Deve's "cheat" seems to be the answer!
James
J R Luard

There may always be easier ways ... however, your only problem there is if it slips off.

Brakes are something I prefer to use the items as designed, whatever brake system it is. When you "modify" something that is designed to stop you, I always warn people they better have better than average insurance.

It is not a course I would recommend personally.

Paul

Paul Barrow

Paul,

Spot on comments. Two interesting thoughts here. Any dodgy modifications no longer will be checked without regular MOT tests. secondly when at the last test couple weeks ago was told by tester how much better the YB brakes were in comparison to Jaguar pleasing to hear.
Richard
R E Knight

No "MOT" test in the world though Richard would catch this sort of thing and frankly the first anyone would know of these kind of well hidden repairs is when you go in there to fix something else, which is preferable to the second and that is when something goes wrong. Having, or not having an MOT (and I realise that we have opposing thoughts about the necessity of that) would not, in this case help as I am sure you agree.

Paul
Paul Barrow

This thread was discussed between 30/05/2012 and 01/06/2012

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