MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - Brake Adjuster Access Hole in Wheels

Did the ventilated TD/TF wheels ever feature the additional brake adjuster access hole? If so, that would mean there were three styles of disc wheels for the TD/TF. I have one such wheel - and I know that it is not an MGA wheel - it looks like a TD/TF wheel.

Any thoughts?

The factory parts book is interesting in that it lists one wheel as "pierced" and one as "ventilated" - I would think that these are duplicate entries and would think they mean the same thing. Hum?

Just wondered if the wheel with the brake adjuster access hole is for some other car.
DLD

Well from my TD/TF WSM Bible :)

It does not show any "Brake Adjustment" hole in the steel wheels.

It would have to be almost in line with the stud holes?

I can only assume a PO thought it a good idea to make a hole to adjust the brakes without having to remove the wheels.

It does not look like it was a standard thing
If the WSM is to be believed.

Just my 2c worth :)

Rod

R D Jones

My wheels will allow you to adjust the brakes without removing the wheel...provided you mount them on the drum with the openings lined up.

MG LaVerne

All 5 of mine have the hole.

Jim Haskins 1953 TD
J. M. Haskins

I'm with LaVerne - I've never seen a TD/TF steel wheel without the adjusting holes, no matter what the WSM shows. You just line them up with the brake drum adjusting holes, and all is well. I have a dim memory that there was a similar Morris wheel, and perhaps that has no adjuster hole; I just don't know.

My suspicion is that the two wheels in the Parts List are the early, non-pierced "ventilated" wheels (with smallish ventilation slots on the periphery), and the normal "drilled wheels".

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

My DPO even went so far as to buy car plugs to install over the holes then mounted the wheels so the plug and hole were covered by the wheel..someone clueless as to the purpose of the adjustment holes..thought he was "keeping the dirt out". lol
Regards, Tom
tm peterson

My '52 TD has the holes in every wheel. Very handy.

BobbyG
Bobby Galvez

My 52 TD has 3 of the 4 wheels with adjuster holes. Would have to check the spare to see if it has one or not. A minor pain to do adjusting w/o the wheel on but have gotten used to doing it before the wheel goes on.
Randy
R Biallas

Well - I think there were actually three types of TD/TF wheel then:

First Version: Plain, solid wheel - with no "cooling" holes and no brake adjustment hole (as found on the early TDs.

Second Version: Pierced (or Drilled) without the brake adjustment hole

Third Version: Pierced (or drilled) with brake adjuster hole


Our TD has the pierced wheels without the adjuster hole.

DLD

The drivers handbook illustration showing the wheel on page 31 is the same drawing for both TD and TF. The drawing was re-used with ventilation hole additions for the TF handbook (common practise with several of these drawings). Did they simply overlook the addition of the adjustment hole to the TF version?

Matthew.
M Magilton

Can anyone with an early car with solid wheels confirm that there are no adjusting holes?

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

I would bet $$$ that the early, solid wheels lack the adjuster hole. The drawings in the operations manual usually depict the first version of components and were sometimes not updated for subsequent editions - as mentioned above - I don't think we can use the images as a reliable guide as to what was featured on the various versions of the cars over time.

Covering the holes with a rubber plug is actually a smart idea - this was done with the later MGAs and ZA/ZBs - on these cars the holes in the steel wheels were fitted with a small plastic tube that featured a rubber end - these kept out water and dust - by forming a sealed tube through which you could insert your screw driver - the end was actually open but was covered by the hubcap.

Some cars feature two adjustment holes for each wheel.
DLD

With all of the space around the backside of the drum which allows water in,,, why bother with a rubber plug ??

SPW
STEVE WINCZE

There used to be an early serial # TD in town that had the perforated wheels, but no adjuster hole. My Oct. '51 has perforated with the adjustor. Very convenient to check the adjustment. George
George Butz

in regard to plugging the adjustment hole to "...keep water and dust out" i would be more concerned about keeping the all the brake dust generated "in". and i don't see the plug having any effect on keeping water out.
regards, tom
tm peterson

The plugs may only be needed/effective on the wire wheel cars - my TF has them.


They obviously looked into the issue - I have the original tubes on my ZB Magnette - and they were fitted to the MGA.

You all may be right that the tubes did little to keep out dust and water.
DLD

My TD4224 came "OUT" Nov 7/50. I think it would be considered an early TD. It has the perforated wheels and the brake adjusting holes, however the brake holes are closer to a wheel stud, than the one shown in the WSM. I have a rear axle from a TD2, and it also has the brake holes closer to a wheel stud than shown in the WSM.

Tom Lange, I have some old Morris wheels that are the same as the early TD wheels with no perforations, and they do not have the brake adjusting hole.

George
G. L. Raham

George - excellent to know; I am always amazed how much I learn on this forum!

Best, Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Ran down and checked 581 (Born January, 1950) and, sure enough, there is a hole (at least on left rear wheel) to access the micro adjuster.
Charles Duffy

My 51 TD... Which I believe is 'early' has the holes... Af least on two of the wheels...
Geoffrey M Baker

I thought all the TF's came with wire wheels???
Or was it an option?

Mort
Mort 50 TD (Mobius)

My 51 TD built October 1950 does not have them, wish they did.
Rich (TD 3983) Taylor

It was an option..and a good one I might add.

MG LaVerne

So why can't you just drill your own hole?

Will it make that much of a difference to require a
rebalance?

It makes a lot of sense to have it and not have to remove the wheels to do the once a year tune up.


Rod
R D Jones

eBay 331140937756

Here is a set of wheels without the adjuster holes. I learn something all the time from this forum - I would not have thought to look before. Thank you, guys.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

I learn something too... so now all 4 of my wheels are correctly positioned with the wheel holes over the drum holes!
Geoffrey M Baker

TD 0533 solid wheels and no holes
Rob
Rob Silverman

This thread was discussed between 23/02/2014 and 07/03/2014

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archives. Join this live forum now