MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

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 MGA - MGA brake drum color

The brake drums on my MGA have been silver, red, black and even fluorescent orange (very briefly) during my 39 years of ownership. The wheels and drums need to painted again. I've grown up a bit, and I'd like to do it right this time. I know the wire wheels should be a muted silver, but what color should the brake drums be?
Chuck Asbury

Chuck, I asked that question myself of an MGA restorer and it seems they were black. I went ahead and painted mine silver to match the wire wheels. Looks much better to my eyes Sean
S Sherry

They were originally black. Tastes vary, I think that provides a nice contrast to the silver wheels.

Neil
Neil McGurk

I believe that the MGA's built at Abingdon had black brake drums, but for some strange reason the MGA's built in Australia had silver brake drums.
Image attached shows newly built Australian MGA's awaiting transport to Dealers.


Mick


Mick Anderson

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder Sean
S Sherry

I asked a similar question a couple of weeks ago.

Silver was not uncommon..I've seen a number Healeys with Silver.

The only practical issue is that I'm told black releases heat more quickly than silver.
T McCarthy

BLACK they are. Thanks for your help.
Chuck Asbury

Did you clean up the drums before painting? I have had them sand blasted, and then used barbeque paint from a spray can (black gloss or matte) for a long lasting finish. The bbq paint is better to resist the heating up of the drums.
Can do the same for calipers if you have disc brakes.
Peter.
P. Tilbury

This thread was discussed between 05/08/2008 and 07/08/2008

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.