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MG MGA - Rear Brake Conversion

I have converted the front brakes to discs on my MGA. Is there a rear brake converstion kit?
gerard hutchinson

There is a guy on the Midget BBS who has made a kit available for them and is pondering a kit for Banjo Axle As and Bs

dominic clancy

A mechanic in New Zealand has done it using MGF rear callipers and Volvo discs.

http://www.mgparts.co.nz/about-us/our-cars/joseph-s-rear-disc-brake-conversion/

Mick
M F Anderson

I don't want to spoil your fun but except as a curiosity piece I really don't see any reason to go disc at the back.

There is at least one disadvantage in that you will loose the excellent 10" drum handbrake. Personally in a car with a single hydraulic system I find it reassuring to have a good hand brake.

Also as it easy to lock the back drum brakes in an emergency stop I can't see any point in increasing the braking at the back. After all in more recent years all brake systems are stronger at the front/limit rear braking.

But clearly you can do what you like

Paul
Paul Dean

Paul,

Some of your points are valid. You can have a mechanical handbrake with rear disc brakes, as on the MGA Twin Cam. However I found on my Twin Cam that if you apply the disc brake handbrake when stopped after a hard run (hot discs) the handbrake can come off as the discs cool.
The correct front/rear brake brake balance is achieved by different hydraulic cylinder diameters.

Mick
M F Anderson

I had no problem locking all four of my drum brakes when I got distracted and almost blew a stop sign, even with new radial tires. Unless you're racing the car, disk brakes are really a solution in search of a problem.
David Breneman

Having owned a drum brake MGA 1500 and a four wheel disc brake Twin Cam I can certainly state that the non fade qualities of the disc brakes are very useful in rapid descents on hills with continuous twisting corners. In city driving both types are satisfactory but non servo discs require quite a bit of pedal effort.
M F Anderson

Exactly as Paul says - why would you want to?
Cam Cunningham

Why would you? Because you can! See pic of my coupe rear brakes - 10" disc with Dunlop calipers (2 1/4" pistons). Yes the front has been modified too - 11" ventilated discs, 4 pot Volvo calipers and a bias valve in the cabin! Only recommended if you want something unique. MGA standard disc / drum brakes with good pads are fine for every day use - if you run out of brakes with the std system you are driving too hard!
Mike

Mike Ellsmore

Trading an effective parking brake for bragging rights and no increase in performance has always seemed like the triumph of ego over common sense to me.

I use the Dunlop 4 wheel discs for racing, where it is easier to maintain consistent braking as everything gets hot, but as far as stopping is concerned the rear drums do a fine job (the bias is very heavily on the front in any case).

When I built the Jamaican it had a 1500 chassis and I had the choice of what to do. I chose front discs and rear drums, the best IMHO for the street. I don't have to remember to leave it in gear when I park so that it will still be there when I get back (like Mick said, park it hot and when it cools the rear disc hand brake can slacken off).
Bill Spohn

At work in the early 90s a guy parked a then oldish Jag on a slope in the car park. Guess what, as the rear disc handbrake cooled down it slowly descended the car park, went over a curb and then down a 45 degree slope coming to rest against a pillar.

A lot of modern 'all disc' cars of course have a small drum inside the disc to provide just the handbrake.

Paul

Paul Dean

It would be interesting to know what percentage of MGAs have not had their suspensions and brakes "improved" by owners. The only "improvement" on my car is a 5-main MGB engine that was in the car when I bought it. If the original engine still existed, I would have put it in when I restored it. Mine may be one of the few almost-original MGAs left!
David Breneman

This thread was discussed between 02/07/2015 and 16/07/2015

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