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MG TD TF 1500 - TD brake issue

I have an issue with my left front brake. I adjusted it like the book says and the same way the other three wheels were done. But on the left front it is not adjusting properly.
When I go for a 5 mile ride the brake starts to drag and you can feel it as you stop. The wheel gets very hot. But here is the thing, if I back up, the brake seems to release and the drag stops. The car will roll freely. Today as I drove it to the house by the time I got in the driveway it was really dragging. But when I turn into the garage I have to back up and the brake freed up. I have backed off the adjusting screws twice, and today when I backed up, I thought the pedal might go all the way to the floor.
Suggestions?
Thanks
TLW Wright

Sounds like it may be time to pull the drum and see what's going on. Since this is a safety issue, you probably won't be confident in any corrective action recommendations without an inspection inside anyway. Remember, the left side nut is left hand thread.
Richard Cameron

I had a similar problem but with both back wheels on my TD. After a short drive, the rear brakes were not releasing and made the drums too hot to touch. I vented the pressure on one side and drove home carefully not using much braking.
I changed all three rubber brake hoses figuring that the known problem of the inside of the hose was collapsing and locking the pressure in the wheel cylinders. I have not had a problem since then. The outside of the old hoses looked perfect but the insides were soft and gummy.
Jim Merz

I think some people have had bonded brake shoe linings fall off, that could cause it also. George
George Butz

TLW,
I agree with Richard,,, time to take the drums off,,, might be a broken return spring,, easy fix,,,,

SPW
Steve Wincze

just what i was looking for. Some places to look first in case something did not jump out at me.
yup as soon as the TR is off the lift, the MG is going on. not going to drive it until i figure out something. hopefully just the spring...
i will probably pull both front wheels. As i recall when i last adjusted the brakes the one adjuster screw seemed to make a difference while the other one on each front wheel did not seem to have much impact on the adjustment. Maybe an issue of some sort in both front wheels... only noticed the one because it gets hot.

TLW Wright

This thread was discussed on 18/08/2014

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