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MG TD TF 1500 - Totally T Type Article on Beehive Springs

The latest edition of the Totally T Type newsletter has an article on beehive brake keepers. It lists these for the TD?

I have never seen a set on a TD. Thoughts?

"Beehive springs on TD/TF Rear Backplates

It’s quite easy to while away many a happy half hour trying to fit these little blighters! I asked someone who I thought would know how to fit them, only to be told “I don’t bother with them!” Well, they must have been provided for a reason and that is to prevent the brake shoes from moving laterally.

The fixing points on the brake backplate are shown painted white in the picture below. The picture shows the rear off-side backplate. To fit the beehive spring to the top fixing point on this backplate you would need to position it at 180 degrees with the pliers with the hook pointing towards the back of the car, press hard and twist clockwise. It’s the same for the bottom fixing point, except that you twist anti-clockwise.

Easier said than done, but it’s a lot easier with a used one!"

(Totally T-Type Dec 3, 2020 The MG 'T' Society Ltd
34A Bath Road Keynsham Bristol, BS31 1SN United Kingdom)





Bruce Cunha

Bruce,
I had these on my TD and on an extra rolling chassis I bought. Interestingly, the ones on the extra rolling chassis were white.
Jim
JV Smith TD17744

I have a set on my TF.
When restoring the brakes bought new set from Moss. But had great difficulty in fitting them & broke one.
Found that like most new replacements they are not exactly the same dimensions as the originals
If you compare the photos you will notice that the hook end on the new is a lot closer to the base of the coil than the used samples.
You need to grind down the end of the hook to allow enough room so when compressed can be turned under the plate.
Cheer John
J.K. Chester-Freeman

Bruce they weren’t used on earlier TDs and I don’t see a need for them
W A Chasser

I agree Bill. Never had any issues that i felt were related to the shoe moving. That makes sense that this may have been added later in production.
Bruce Cunha

I have had these on both my TDs, both 53's, going back to 1964. Having something to help hold the brake shoe up against the back plate. Seems like a good idea to me Maybe it helps with noise or preventing uneven wear? I don't know. But I don't see them doing any harm, so have always put them back on.
Fun note The PO I got the current TD from in bits. had had them chromed, not that anyone will see them :)
Rod
Rod Jones

My 52 had them and the 50 here does not. Even though we may not see the need for them, the engineers at MG must have seen something that said they did.
L E D LaVerne

Both of my chassis were built in July of 1952 and both had them.

Jim
JV Smith TD17744

This thread was discussed between 04/12/2020 and 05/12/2020

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