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MG MGA - seized rear brakes

Just got finished bleeding the brakes on my 58 MGA. Pedal feels better BUT now both rear wheels are seized. I eliminated the obvious (in neutral, parking brake off). On Barney Gaylord's site, he says this is often a symptom of rear hose failure. Anyone else ever have this problem? Both brakes at once? Why would it happen now? Also, anyone know how to solve a weeping bleeder? I replaced one of the screws because the nut was almost stripped and it weeps. So I put the old one back in. Any suggestions? Appreciate the help.

Jim
J Plegue

open one bleeder and if the wheels then are free you will have to replace the rear brake hose and bleed again.If the front hoses are approximately the same age I would change them too.
Sandy Sanders
conrad sanders

Hi Jim. Try backing off on the rear Micram brake adjusters a click or two. Perhaps the adjustment is too tight after getting the air out of the system? Just a thought. Cheers! GLenn
Glenn

Well I backed off on the bleeder, out came the fluid, but both wheels are still locked up. I can't back off the adjusters because I can't access the screws. Sometime ago I had the rear wheel freeze like this and eventually freed it by hitting it with a hammer a few (dozen) times. Guess I can try that again unless someone has some other thoughts. Thanks for the input.

Jim
J Plegue

Should be able to move the wheel with the bleeder open to release the pressure on the wheel cyliner. Good luck
JEFF BECKER

There are really only a few reasons why the brakes would lock up. Either there is pressure in the hydraulics, which you released by opening the bleeder, or else the parking brake cable is corroded and not releasing, or else the cylinders or pivots are corroded and not moving freely. Maybe several of the above. With the parking brake off check at the connections to the levers at the wheel cylinders to make sure the cable is not tight and has some slack.
Jeff Schultz

I had a similar problem some years ago. Turned out that the return springs on the rear wheels were weak and would no return the shoes to their rightful position.

As things got warmer from use, the fluid would expand and lock the brakes solid.
Chuck Schaefer

Jim; there is another reason for brakes to stick; differial oil can leak into the drum/ shoe area. After repeated stop it turns into a tar like material. Perhaps u could open the bleeders, slacken the hand brake, and try reverse, not forward. The geometry of the shoes makes them partially self energizing when going forward. Good Luck, Bill.
w.g cook

This thread was discussed between 24/07/2005 and 26/07/2005

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