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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Master Cylinders

Hi all
The latest problem I've just found is brake fluid on the rubber mat in my footwell. It's coming down the clutch pedal. The fluid is coming from the pushrod area. The pushrod itself is somewhat corroded with sharp raised particles of rust, so obviously the rod needs replacing along with the rubber seal.
If I decide to replace the master cylinder (which would be easiest, but the more expensive option) would a new plastic bodied type physically fit ok next to the original tin can type of brake cyl? I'd prefer the original type, but it seems they are unobtainable now.
Dom
Dominic Excell

Dominic,

I wouldn't count on everyone remembering exactly what car you have. I don't.

Charley
C R Huff

point taken Charley.
It's a 1971 1275cc GAN5.
Dominic Excell

Guess I should have admitted that I still wouldn't know the answer, but that should give someone else a better chance.

Charley
C R Huff

Yes it will fit Dominic. Here's my 1971 GAN5 - with both master cylinders of the plastic variety - and they're both slightly larger than the original tin cans.



Steve Clark

Very nice indeed Steve, thank you. It puts mine to shame! I think I'll get a replacement rather than mess about with trying to renovate. If it's anything like the slave was inside, it'll be a real dogs dinner!
Dominic Excell

Dominic

I have a Clutch MC surplus, and brand new. You can have it for £25 plus the postage - leacy has them for £47!

If you want to do both MCs at the same time, I have a brand new brake MC also surplus that you can have for the same price

Dominic
dominic clancy

btw, as I mentioned on another thread, unless the bores are really bad, you can hone them with some fine wet&dry wound around a rod in an electric drill. With new seals it's a cheap fix.
Nick Nakorn

Hi Dominic, thanks for the offer, I wish I'd seen it before buying one already. I'll bear you in mind however, as I'm planning on replacing the brake one next year. I suppose I could return the one I just bought when it arrives... Are they both Lockheed / Delphi and for the 1275?
Dom
Dominic Excell

Both brand new, original, and for 1275, just waiting to be packaged up....

Much easier to do them together as well!

dominic clancy

Well if anyone else wants them, the offer is open


dominic clancy

Dominic, I'm interested, please email me so I can discuss
Cheers, Dom.
Dominic Excell

Just a word of warning regarding the plastic clutch masters on Evilbay. I fitted one as I had exactly the same issue as the OP (even after fitting new seals) but found that no matter how much fluid I pumped through (with an eazibleed) I couldn't get the clutch to operate correctly. Put another set of seals in the original tin can and hey-presto instant clutch!. Now I'm looking for anothe tin clutch master with no leaks that I can refurbish. For the time being I'll put up with a little fluid drip from time to time.

hint. on evilbay do a search for pedal boxes. seems no-one can be bothered to take them apart to sell the cylinders seperately.
graeme jackson

Slightly off topic, but I hope worth knowing. Some time ago (25 years)I replaced the seals in the clutch slave cylinder and the clutch worked fine... for about six months. Same symptoms, no pedal. Replaced the seals again, all cured... for about 6 months. Repeat three or four times.
Then I got fed up with it and investigated further. I found that the bore of the slave cylinder had worn so that the walls were not parallel with a larger bore in the middle, new seals worked for a while but could only cope with a little wear.
Replacement of the cylinder cured the problem.
Moral of the story is that master and slave cylinders cannot always be refurbished satisfactorily. They sometimes need replacing.

Dave
Dave Brown

re worn master cyl bores; refurbishing should/would include checking the bore and re-sleeving if out of tolerance. As the tin can ones aren't made any more (and NOS is pretty rare) anyone who wants originality will need to follow this path.
David Smith

The two MCs have a new home.
dominic clancy

Thanks Dominic, much appreciated. Look forward to finalising the deal and fitting them.
Dominic Excell

This thread was discussed between 13/06/2014 and 19/06/2014

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.