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they almost work AAARG

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they almost work AAARG
#1
geraldlanc gerald lancaster
austin, USA   USA
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1967 MG MGB
My first attempt at rebuilding brakes on the 67 B (front and rear complete new parts) has come to a halt. The front calipers work, but the rear do not. I have bled the brakes until no air bubbles come out, but the pedal is still a bit soft. It goes down 3 or 4 inches inches before stopping. I turned the brake adjusters until there is just a little drag on the drum and then my helper pushes the pedal to the bottom as I turn the drum. The brake pads do not contact the drum. Then my helper pumps the pedal three times and holds on three and the drum is locked up good and tight. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Gerald

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Re: they almost work AAARG
#2
LENZ Avatar
LENZ Jim B
Leominster, MA, USA   USA
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1970 MG MGB GT
1974 MG MGB GT "White Lightning"
did you adjust the parking brake?
rear adjuster move top of shoes and parking brake moves the lower

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Re: they almost work AAARG
#3
ClayJ Avatar
ClayJ Silver Member Clay Johnston
Mt. Olive, MS, USA   USA
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1972 MG MGB
One suggestion: with drum off, crack bleeder, with a large pair of pliers squeeze the pistons until they bottom out against each other, reinstall drum, run adjuster out until drums lock, bleed/work brakes with good pedal pressure. Lastly back off adjuster until wheel frees. This procedure will get the contact area on the shoes more towards the middle area of the shoe.

Check for crushed brake lines to the rear or across the axle (common).

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Re: they almost work AAARG
#4
geraldlanc gerald lancaster
austin, USA   USA
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1967 MG MGB
Problem solved?? My helper was not applying full pressure to the pedal ( 5 year old grand daughter ) so I asked my 9 year old to help and they seem to work now. The first push on the pedal seems a little soft to me, but with one pump, it firms up nicely. I won't know for sure until I get it on the ground with some tires installed. It may take a little tweaking with the adjuster. Now the ebrake - it locks up the rear wheels firmly with 2 clicks on the ratchet. Is that correct? Does the ebrake cable route thru the driveshaft tunnel?
Gerald

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Re: they almost work AAARG
#5
ingoldsb Avatar
ingoldsb Silver Member Terry Ingoldsby
Calgary, AB, Canada   CAN
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1971 MG MGB
If it firms up with one push, you still have air in the lines.

If you deem it safe to do so, take the car around the block a couple of times (using the brakes). Then, rebleed. I don't know why but I've often found that getting the last bubble out seems to require some actual movement of the car.


Terry Ingoldsby
terry.ingoldsby@DCExperts.com

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Re: they almost work AAARG
#6
tomkatb Avatar
tomkatb Larry Baygents
Dayton, Ohio, USA   USA
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1963 MG MGB
There is a learning process to bleeding.

I assume you are using the open/close of the bleeder. Plywood on the floor so the helper cannot overdo it.

Assume new hoses.

Carefully inspect lines in the rear for damage.

Drive it a bit and rebleed. Air in the lines in back.


L.W.(Larry)Baygents
63B
77 Spit

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Re: they almost work AAARG
#7
DrewM Avatar
DrewM Drew Maddock
74 MGB roadster, Southern California, USA   USA
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The old 5-year old "helper" problem, eh? smiling smiley


Drew Maddock, So. Calif. USofA

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Re: they almost work AAARG
#8
B-racer Avatar
B-racer Jeff Schlemmer
Shakopee, MN, USA   USA
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1950 Willys Jeep Pickup "Ratrod"
1964 Land Rover Series IIA
1971 MG MGB
Pump the brakes, then readjust the rears. Repeat until they drag a little too much, then back them off until you just hear them rub a bit.

Yep, likely still a bit of air in the lines if the pedal needs to be pumped up.


jeff@advanceddistributors.com

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Re: they almost work AAARG/DO NOT GIVE UP TOO SOON
#9
Donthuis Avatar
Donthuis Don van Riet
Rijswijk, ZH, Netherlands   NLD
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1972 MG MGB MkIII
Bleeding the rearbrakes is often easier in the end, as you've now noticed, while with new calipers up front sometimes tiny bubbles may stuck to corners of the unit(s) eye rolling smiley
I had a minor soft pedal effect after my frontbrake overhaul (even with rearbrakes well adjusted and bled/handbrake pulled), which disappeared at second bleeding of the front after a week of driving

In reply to # 3134697 by geraldlanc My first attempt at rebuilding brakes on the 67 B (front and rear complete new parts) has come to a halt. The front calipers work, but the rear do not. I have bled the brakes until no air bubbles come out, but the pedal is still a bit soft. It goes down 3 or 4 inches inches before stopping. I turned the brake adjusters until there is just a little drag on the drum and then my helper pushes the pedal to the bottom as I turn the drum. The brake pads do not contact the drum. Then my helper pumps the pedal three times and holds on three and the drum is locked up good and tight. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Gerald



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2015-11-27 09:21 AM by Donthuis.

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