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MG TD TF 1500 - New brake shoes

I have just renewed all my brakes:- shoes and cylinders and am very disappointed with them. The pedal effort compared with the old shoes (OE asbestos type) is massive.
The shoes were arched to each drum and cylinders the right way round ie.twin leading not trailing shoe.
The car still stops OK but I am not used to the effort involved, is this usual.
After driving the MG I went out in my daily car and nearly snapped the seat belt as my foot learned the correct pressure!
Ray TF 2884.
Ray Lee

Ray. I suspect they will improve - even if arched correctly, they won't be a perfect fit until worn in a little. I imagine that if you now removed them for inspection you would find that the contact area was small.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Ray,
I had my shoes relined by a local relining buisness, and had the same problem. I had to use exessive pressure to stop.
It turns out that they used a harder shoe material, which would probably work finr in a car with power brakes, but not in a TD.
I ordered shoes from one of the MG suppliers and now everything is fine.

Steve
SPW Wincze

Hi Steve,
the shoes are Moss Europe so I would expect them to be the correct material.
I may be expecting too much as I had a good stock of OE linings but after 40+ years of ownership I finally ran out.
I have just been talking to a friend who had the same problem. He said they took 500 miles to feel right. Maybe his leg got stronger. ;-)
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

Ray, on Wheeler Dealers they refurbished a P544 Volvo. Ed replaced the brake lining with something with a higher coefficient of friction than traditional brake shoe lining. Doesn't negate the suggestions above but it might be an affordable upgrade. Anyone know what it was and if it is available for T series brake shoes?

Tim
TD12524
TW Burchfield

Many times I have found new pads or shoes to not work the best, with gradual improvement. Some suggest a few hard stops to bed them in. I would also try to lock up and skid at a slow speed, making sure you have 4 equal length skid marks. This ensures all 4 corners are working correctly. No idea what type of lining is on currently available shoes. George
George Butz

Could someone please post an image showing the correct shoe mounting for both front and rear for a TD/TF. I suspect that the replacement shoes do not have the original lining arrangement, and I am reassembling this car after many years apart. Thanks!
Rb Harding

:higher coefficient of friction" means softer pads.
S Cole

Rb Harding: Here are pictures from page M.6 of the WSM. Do they help?
Joe

Joe Olson

Here's what my fronts looked like after I restored them a few years ago, if it helps.

Kevin McLemore

And the back...

Kevin McLemore

Don't forget left and right are mirror images of each other. Front cylinder pointing down and rear cylinder up. Also if the cylinder thread (banjo connection) is behind the track control arm then the back plates are on the wrong side of the car. They are stamped L an R and the small hole between the bolt holes goes to the front.

Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

Excellent, thanks. I hope to get back to checking these this month, cone a few other items are out of the way.
Rb Harding

This thread was discussed between 03/01/2017 and 05/01/2017

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