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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - rear brake cylinders

I am going to replace my rear brake cylinders on my 1973 RWA MG midget. However it would appear that replacement units are of a very variable quality. They may fail on initial fitment or are very shortlived. Do any members have any recommendations? I note the part required GWC1102 is supplied under various other part numbers by various different companies. I know the units are comparable to a common fitment on many models and Mini spares.Com supplies AP units. these are approximately twice the price but are supposed to be of original quality. However overall the replacement price of these units are relatively cheap of the scheme of things and are obviously vitally important part of road safety.
An alternative to new units would be NOS units, presumably Lockheed but I do not know the part number. i would be grateful if members could give me their views on the subject and experiewnce so that I can fit the best quality and therefore hopefully long lasting and efficient units for normal road use.
Robert
R C ROSE

Hi Robert,

I use my car as a day car and replaced the rears 18 months ago when re commissioning the car. I just had what Sussex had at the time and they have been fine since.

It seems to me that many of the poor quality issues may be with the cars not being used much and some parts deteriorate faster when not used than when used regularly.

Dave
Dave Squire

I have had some dreadful experiences with aftermarket hydraulic parts and as a result have tended to buy NOS Lockheed or Unipart, AP Caparo etc. A supplier I have used is Powertrack Brakes who maybe are not the cheapest but have usually the quality stock
Bob Beaumont

I had a dud new rear cylinder recently, but it may have been my fault!

Perhaps teaching a granny to suck eggs here, but I forgot to adjust up the rear brakes before bleeding, so as I bled them the pistons popped out and they leaked fluid.

I pushed the pistons back in and re-did things correctly but that cylinder never sealed properly and I eventually replaced it this week.

Malcolm.
M Le Chevalier

I tend to agree that rear brake slave cylinders tend to be reliable providing the car is used regularly and the brakes are properly adjusted and the shoes and springs are correctly fitted. I used to have lots of customers with rear brake problems and in most cases the springs were incorrectly fitted so the shoes were not 'square' with the inside of the drums so adjustment was always too loose due to binding of the shoes. Some after-market units might be poor quality but there's not a lot to go wrong with them. If you're worried about quality, take the new ones apart when they're new and check the bores are good and that the rubbers are springy. New 'old stock' are likely to be worse than new after-market in that regard. I've recently fitted new ones and have not checked them but I've only had one new one fail in 40 years - the rubbers were perished.
Nick Nakorn

This thread was discussed on 25/07/2014

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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