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MG MGA - simple way to detach rear shoe springs?

It's been too many years since I last did this. I'm replacing the rear drums and I'm looking for the easy, simple way to remove and replace the two tension springs, hopefully without any special tools.
It seems that I can use needle nose pliers to detach, but I'm worried about damaging the springs.
- Ken

Ken Doris

OK, with adjusters fully in, was able to remove larger springs with needle nose plus large screwdriver, but it took considerable force. Then I removed the adjuster completely and was able to angle the shoes to easily remove the larger spring. I'm still looking for advice for re-attaching them.

Glad I did a full check of things before driving the A to Watkins Glen this coming Thursday-Sunday for Vintage Race weekend.
http://www.grandprixfestival.com/

The right rear shoes were down almost to the rivets, and I found a small leak in the banjo fitting on that same side, so a 1000 mile round trip with many hard miles at the Glen would have been dangerous. New shoes and parts are on order but won't arrive until next weekend. Well, this means I'll have to leave the A home and take our modern sports car.

At least the A should be ready for the Solomon's Regional the last week in September:
http://mga-midatlantic.org/events.html?trumbaEmbed=eventid%3D92508277%26view%3Devent%26-childview%3D


- Ken
Ken Doris

I fix the springs to the shoes and then fit the shoes to the back plate. This tends to be a very simple way to o the job, with a bit of tilting and pushing. :)
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

I second what Bob says. Lever the brake shoes from the cylinder and the pivot (having removed the conical retaining springs), then deal with the tension spring with the shoes off the car.
Lindsay Sampford

Ah, that makes sense, more leverage by using the entire shoe!
BTW, mine (actually, Melon's)didn't have the conical center "anti-rattle" spring. Was that standard on all MGA's or only the 1500's? Ours (hers) is a 1600 Mark II.

- Ken

Ken Doris

My 1600 has the "anti-rattle" springs - I too pull up the whole of the top brake shoe against the tension of the springs to lift them away from the slots in the adjuster - refitting is a simple reversal.
Cam Cunningham

Ken, I think those conical springs are quite important as they hold the shoes against the abutments on the brake plate and keep the shoes 'square' with the brake drum. Without them, the shoes are free to slop about when not applied and can catch the drum randomly. They are fitted to my 1500 and my ZA Magnette had them as well. I have come across similar retainers on various other cars.
Lindsay Sampford

Thanks Lindsay, I just added 4 of them to my order.
Ken Doris

Ken,

Pick up a cheap brake tool/spring compressor like this one, http://www.jcwhitney.com/brake-spring-compressor/p2017860.jcwx?filterid=j1 . Much easier to install the anti-rattle springs than with a pair of pliers.

John
jbackman

That looks a usefull tool John. The 'pliers method' often results in at least one of them hurtling across the garage and disappearing into a pile of junk in the corner! Better add a 5th one to to your order Ken!
Lindsay Sampford

I have found that a set of needle-nosed vise grips is quite handy when dealing with brake springs since they limit the tendency for springs to fly about when released. A useful tool for quite a few other jobs as well.
Tom Heath

This thread was discussed between 04/09/2011 and 07/09/2011

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