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MG TD TF 1500 - Brakes

Question on my brakes. Doesn't seem to matter how much you adjust. The front brakes, always seems to pull to the left, especially if you hit them hard. Cruising down the road, gently push the pedal, brake goes three quarters of the way down. Wouldn't call it soft but there seems to be some give, and you slow fairly nicely and evenly. Do a second pump. They definitely stiffen up, stop with more aggression, but pulls to the left. Is it possible I need to replace the cylinders? Don't really feel unsafe in it, but if you're not expecting it, it does kind of make you a little jumpy when you hit the brakes hard and it goes left
TR Hammond

Are your shoes oriented correctly?

Regards, Tom
tm peterson

Yes. I actually have a picture up in my garage from The TSO magazine to make sure I have the properly oriented.
TR Hammond

When did this problem start? Had you recently done brake work? Very dangerous IMHO. Pulling to the left means right front not working correctly. With car jacked up, the adjuster turned fully should solidly lock up the drum. If all the way and it still spins, an adjuster/shoe problem. The soft pedal could be part that, or several other things. George
George Butz III

It's a problem I've been working on for a little bit, started a while ago. I can lock up that wheel with the adjuster good and tight. Someone had suggested changing out the cylinders, they could be gummy and I'm not sure how old they are. Believe it or not, they could be what was installed in 2007. My other thought is to try replacing the three-way.
TR Hammond

What brake fluid are you using?
Bruce Cunha

How old are the flexible lines? Jud
J K Chapin

Definitely pull the drums and take a look. I had a pull to one side, and found a fairly new wheel cylinder was leaking and lubed the shoes with DOT5 fluid, maybe 6-7 years old? If the hoses more than 10 years old, replace them. If you can lock wheel with adjuster, that isn't the problem. George
George Butz III

I am using DOT 5. I did pull the drum and found a slight coating of brake fluid all over the drum and brakes there doesn't seem to be any leaks so I can't tell where it's coming from. Cleaned it up with brake cleaner, put it back together and did notice a difference, but still pulls to the left, but not as violently. The one thing I did notice, is if you ease into the brakes, it doesn't. Paul. Yes, the hoses are more than 10 years old, but look like they're in great shape. I guess I will start by replacing the hoses, then the cylinders because they're probably as old as the hoses and change the brake fluid. Any thoughts on the three-way fitting for the front brakes? Thank you all for your help. Any other ideas, please feel free to post.
TR Hammond

The last time I changed my DOT 5 fluid was 20 years ago and its still clean and the brakes are great with no fluid loss.

Something is wrong with a seal or hose somewhere. Those recent diaphragms don't hold up too well so there is that.
Christopher Couper

If it's got brake fluid leaking onto the linings the wheel cylinders need doing---like 'why' would you put it back together when it's leaking like that-----
Once brake fluid gets into the linings it's really hard to get out, even with brake cleaner, just to even things up i'd suggest when you get it all fixed up and clean and not leaking that you swap one shoe onto the other side of the car so that you have one good dry and one cleaned on each side-
Also if you're using a pic on the wall to orientate your brake shoes don't forget to mirror the image for the other side---The cutaway/leading end of the shoe goes to the piston in the wheel cylinder- The solid lining end goes to the solid end of the cylinder.

willy
William Revit

Similar deal on my TD- one side was lubricated with the fluid. It was hard to tell which cylinder failed. Especially with the DOT5, it soaks into the linings and they are shot. No way to get it out. The three way is a solid brass fitting that will last a couple hundred more years, not a wear item. I just changed brake hoses in my other play cars due to age, not something to mess with, especially as out T-cars are single circuit systems. Honestly, I wouldn't drive that car out of the driveway until you correctly sorted this. That would be new flex hoses, shoes, and cylinders. They are very inexpensive now days too. George
George Butz III

Are you sure that the wheel cylinders are correctly fitted?

Here is the rule.

"Each front cylinder of the front brakes should be pushing DOWNWARDS".

If you have already fitted the drums, you can check this by looking through the adjusting hole on the drum.


John

J Scragg

Not sure if this is helpful. Just a recent problem for me. Had a braking problem similar. I just did the front shoes. Still not happy! My thinking was the front brakes did 90% of the work. Not so. I had leaking seals. Replaced those and installed a breather valve in the diff oil plug to prevent (hopefully) future leaks. Massive improvement all around. Many many thanks to the archives.
Peter Dahlquist

Ordered new flex hoses and washers, have new cylinders and a spare set of shoes. Didn't realize that the shoes could absorb DOT 5. Once the parts are in, will tear it down and redo it all.

Thank you for the information.
TR Hammond

Thank you all for help and suggestions. Finally decided to do a total take down. Replaced hoses and cylinders. Noticed the shoes on the right were not worn evenly. Replaced the uneven shoes, put it back together, changed the brake fluid, bleed them, payed close attention when adjusting them and Voila.....nice tight brakes, and smooth even stopping.
TR Hammond

This thread was discussed between 23/07/2025 and 24/08/2025

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