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MG MGB Technical - Tightness of Brake Pads

Hi,
I have just changed the pads on my MGBGT, and although the 'inside' pads were a loose fit the 'outer' ones were a very tight fit in the caliper which meant that replacing the pins was very difficult.
The indentations in the pads which align with the holes in the caliper for the pins were way out and I wonder if I can increase that clearance by either making the indentations deeper or taking a file to the base of the pad?
Should there be some free movement of the pads before the clips and pins are fitted?
These are new pads and calipers and the piston position isn’t an issue.
Thanks,
Mike.
1968 MGBGT, with wire wheels.
Mike Christie

Hello Mike, have you checked the pad back plates to see if they are the same size. I know they shouldn't be but you never know these days. If there is no difference I would be taking a close look at the calipers. The pads should fit into the calipers with no clearance and not rattle around. When both pads are installed is the pad material below the edge of the disc by the same amount.What brand
regards John
john wright

Hi John,
Thanks for the reply. The pads are identical and the calipers are new, both from Moss.
I think the file is favourite!
Mike.
Mike Christie

Hi Mike, the origonal pad back plate was made so you couldn't put the pad in the wrong position as they are handed.Have you checked for this to see if they are fitted in the correct position.
I would take a good look at the calipers just to make sure they been machined properly.

regards John
john wright

Are these standard 4-cylinder pads or V8? V8 pads are handed in that there is an inner and an outer (as in the attached), and on tjhe wrong sides they won't quite fit in enough to get the pins in - in V8 calipers at least. As far as I'm aware that doesn't apply to 4-cylinder pads as mine have always been symetrical.

Other than that I find these days the pads are quite a loose fit in the calipers, so much so that in repeated attempts to cure squealing on the V8 I ended up sticking strips of Bremtech soft shims down both edges as well as the back, and they still fitted the calipers.

paulh4

Hi Paul, I guess a lot of the cheap pads are using very cheap back plates. There should not be any slack between the pad and caliper. That's not how Lockheed designed them.

regards John
john wright

I corrected one e bay site the other day, selling brake pads "suitable for MGB, MGB GT and MGB GT V8"!!!
Allan Reeling

"suitable for MGB, MGB GT and MGB GT V8"

I've never tried it but quite a few people talk about V8 pads being a useful upgrade for 4-cylinder calipers as they have slightly larger friction surfaces, so it's not really incorrect - *if* they are the V8 pads.

I only ever use pads from pukka suppliers as they tend to be Mintex/Brembo and come complete with springs and split-pins. The cheaper ones from eBay tend not to. However the calipers are reconditioned, so I wonder how much metal they have taken off the sides of the slots.
paulh4

Thank for all your replies.
The pads, not V8, from Moss are identical, the backing plates match.
There is no indication on the packaging that they are 'handed' so I've fitted them as thay are.
Thanks again.
Mike.
Mike Christie

The problem would be if that traders pads were just standard MGB offerings. I've used V8 pads on an 1800, can't say I noticed much difference. Maybe the heat they generated was stressing the thinner disc's ability to dissipate it, the small servo was not up to the pressure required or maybe, can't remember, they were "Greestuff", which I've since given up on.
Allan Reeling

This thread was discussed between 28/07/2016 and 31/07/2016

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