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the kuz Robert Kuzmick
Leonardtown, MD, USA   USA
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car was off road 12+ years - back running and fixed up - rebuilt rear brakes and all seemed OK but car pulled to right when breaking hard. Tried to bleed fronts and nothing comes out of left side. Had checked pads - still there both sides, but the left caliper does not move when the brake is applied. Left Rotor shows no sign of pads pressing. Do I need a new caliper, or can I do something else?

Thanks, and best regards, Bob K

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lewisrn Gold Member Bob L
Danville, IN, USA   USA
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1980 MG MGB "The "B"
You can rebuild the caliper (new pistons and seals), but for about the same money you can get a rebuilt caliper from a local parts house.

If it's been sitting 12+ years, I would replace both of the calipers, but that's just me.



“Ideological certainty easily degenerates into an insistence upon ignorance". Daniel Patrick Moynihan

In any debate, the side which strays from civil discussion is usually the side that lacks confidence in its debate position or in the merit of their arguments. Making personal attacks on the opponents instead of staying on the subject is also a sign of weakness.

Anyone who feels compelled to respond in kind to any perceived slight is often suffering from narcissism.

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twigworker Jack Austin
Blowing Rock, NC, USA   USA
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X2 on Bob, but a little more...

Start by replacing BOTH hoses ( you should seriously consider the rear hose too), and see how things act.

Then, if you have ANY fear of the situation replace BOTH front calipers and most likly both discs.

If you do ANY of this work you will have a reasonable investment in it and for that money I suspect that you would want it to be working CORRECTLY, so do the calipers and hoses and discs.

To twist the knife a little more, you should consider pulling the hubs and servicing the bearings and seals. Not too much extra effort or expense, and that way you won't be bothered by anything in the area again for quite a while.

Just for grins, while you have the car on stands look at what you can see of the rubber suspension bushings and try to wobble the king pin bushings. If you see any dry rot or squished out rubbers or ANY movement of the king pins begin to accumulate the needed parts and get on to that area as soon as it is convenient.

What I end up doing when I am in the area is generally all of that PLUS dealing with the steering rack. Especially if one of the rack boots is torn, the chances are that there is enough slop in the system to cause quirkey movement from the steering wheel down to the tires.

Sounds like a lot to do, and it is, but once done correctly you may never have to deal with any of it again.

Jack



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the kuz Robert Kuzmick
Leonardtown, MD, USA   USA
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Thanks all, have rotors, disks and seal kits on hand, and will order front hoses and both calipers. We have had 6 B's and have never had anything close to a sudden and catastrophic brake hose failure, but never had any sit this long either.

Best Regards, Bob K

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twigworker Jack Austin
Blowing Rock, NC, USA   USA
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The "brake hose failure" is not what you would descibe as a big leak. Rather, it is a very slow but inevitable restricition INSIDEthe hose. The hose material swells and eventualy restricts the passage of fluid, when the pressure is let off of the system the fluid volume/pressure is retained from the blockage to the caliper pistons, thus "keeping the brake on" a failure is percieved..

The rear hose is likely to develope the same symptom, but usually LATER than another failure in the wheel cylinder.

All of this is perfectly normal for any such system to encounter on any car . The reason that we see it so often in our MGs is that the rest of the car survives on its on or is maintained, thus allowing for enough time for this brake symptom to manifest itself.

Jack



--------------------------------------- Services to Interesting British Automobiles-----------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------www.jackscars.net ----------------------------------------------------

-------------I like to think that I don't service automobiles so much as I provide entertainment, fulfill dreams and revive wonderful memories --------------

I am in the northwestern North Carolina mountains, right up against the Blue Ridge Parkway. Lawn chairs are in the shop and always time to talk. Drop in any time.

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lewisrn Gold Member Bob L
Danville, IN, USA   USA
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1980 MG MGB "The "B"
Robert, please understand that you have just been coached by the best, and I surely don't mean me.



“Ideological certainty easily degenerates into an insistence upon ignorance". Daniel Patrick Moynihan

In any debate, the side which strays from civil discussion is usually the side that lacks confidence in its debate position or in the merit of their arguments. Making personal attacks on the opponents instead of staying on the subject is also a sign of weakness.

Anyone who feels compelled to respond in kind to any perceived slight is often suffering from narcissism.

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the kuz Robert Kuzmick
Leonardtown, MD, USA   USA
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Jack, thanks so much - you nailed it!

Replaced left front hose while waiting for new calipers, & disks to arrive - functionality restored. Never would have suspected that kind of failure mode for a hose - seems to be blocked in/near the hose fitting for the caliper. Hooked old hose back up with that end loose and stepped on brake - no fluid came out. Cut the old hose just above the fitting and gravity flowed fluid as would be expected. When the boss comes home will finish bleeding - did what I could with the plug and a hose, but still some air in there. Do I need to bleed all lines or just that one?

Will still change other hoses, calipers, disks and pads. If I have to remove hub to replace caliper, may as well repack wheel bearings. Cleaning up grease fittings, removing one at a time and replacing/cleaning as needed.

Thank you all for the sound advice - this is a great site!

Very Best Regards, Bob K

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lewisrn Gold Member Bob L
Danville, IN, USA   USA
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1980 MG MGB "The "B"
In reply to # 2786287 by the kuz
Will still change other hoses, calipers, disks and pads. If I have to remove hub to replace caliper, may as well repack wheel bearings. Cleaning up grease fittings, removing one at a time and replacing/cleaning as needed.


You don't have to remove the front wheel hubs to replace the calipers, but as long as yours has been sitting, I would consider it mandatory.



“Ideological certainty easily degenerates into an insistence upon ignorance". Daniel Patrick Moynihan

In any debate, the side which strays from civil discussion is usually the side that lacks confidence in its debate position or in the merit of their arguments. Making personal attacks on the opponents instead of staying on the subject is also a sign of weakness.

Anyone who feels compelled to respond in kind to any perceived slight is often suffering from narcissism.

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the kuz Robert Kuzmick
Leonardtown, MD, USA   USA
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Bob, Thanks, I meant to say " to remove the disks" - have new rotors arriving today/tomorrow. Will take a good look and measure up the old ones with caliper, check for wobble and decide if they need to go now or if I should just replace the calipers and save the rotors until I'm ready to redo all the front suspension. Thought I would pull off the hub seal/cap and take a peak - expect I will pull off hub and repack unless I can confirm that all looks good by examining from there.

Thanks again and Best Regards, Bob K

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lewisrn Gold Member Bob L
Danville, IN, USA   USA
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1980 MG MGB "The "B"
In reply to # 2786325 by the kuz Bob, Thanks, I meant to say " to remove the disks" - have new rotors arriving today/tomorrow. Will take a good look and measure up the old ones with caliper, check for wobble and decide if they need to go now or if I should just replace the calipers and save the rotors until I'm ready to redo all the front suspension. Thought I would pull off the hub seal/cap and take a peak - expect I will pull off hub and repack unless I can confirm that all looks good by examining from there.

Thanks again and Best Regards, Bob K

John Twist says that you never need to repack the inside wheel bearing, only the outside, but I always do both when I have the hub off anyway.



“Ideological certainty easily degenerates into an insistence upon ignorance". Daniel Patrick Moynihan

In any debate, the side which strays from civil discussion is usually the side that lacks confidence in its debate position or in the merit of their arguments. Making personal attacks on the opponents instead of staying on the subject is also a sign of weakness.

Anyone who feels compelled to respond in kind to any perceived slight is often suffering from narcissism.

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