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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - Rear discs looking good

I have at last finished my rear disc conversion for my GT V8. So far only driven a couple of hundred yards but feels good. With new pads all round it all needs to bed in. It must be all in the mind but it feels better with discs and looks good too.
Have pics but dont know where to post them.
I ended up using Rover 800 discs and Granada calipers.
The Hand brake cable was made by Speedy Cables in Hertford and I have to say they are the most helpful efficient and friendly company that Ive come across.
I visited their works on a Tuesday with my requirements, they phoned me Wednesday to say it had been made and it arrived on Thursday and fitted perfectly.
Oh while I was at it I made a new pedal box for twin master cyls and balance bar. Ive tried to keep it as tidy as poss which is quite difficult with the space available.
Looking forward to playing with the brake bias to see whats what.

Mark
Mark

Mark,

Any pics available

Paul
Paul Wiley

Mark,

Any pics greatly appreciated.

Andy
Andrew Hamilton

Mark
Address or contact for speedy cables please!
Dave...
P.S.someone must know how to download pics on this site?!!!
Dave Lowe

I have pics, hehe! Looks awesome, and another must for me before 2010.

Joe
Joseph Phillips

Paul, Andrew
Let me have your e-mail and Ill send some pics.
are you interested in the disc conversion or the twin M/C setup?


Dave www.speedycables.co.uk/

Mark

Mark

Mark,
Sounds good. Do those rear calipers have the e-brake built in? How many pistons, and what bore size? Non-ventilated rotors I suppose? I would also like to see what you did on your M/C arrangement.

Jim
Jim Blackwood

I used Granada calipers with Sierra discs. The calipers include the handbrake and are single piston; the discs are non-vented. Ill have to measure the piston but from memory it is about 40mm diameter. Front/rear balance is good with 4 pot Rover SD1 calipers and solid V8 discs on the front. master cylinder is standard twin circuit MGB with integral servo.

Geoff
Geoff King

Mark,

Both if possible and piston and discs specs and approx costs.

Geoff
What sort of bias are you using?

Paul
Paul Wiley

Mark,

paul@pwiley.fsnet.co.uk

Can you head it MG as I batch spam delete at moment

Thanks

Paul
Paul Wiley

Geoff,

Is that Granada a European model, or an American Ford?

Jim
Jim Blackwood

Jim,

It’s an obsolete European Ford but Sierra calipers are the same and isn’t that a US Merkur?

Paul,

I don’t use a proportioning or pressure-limiting valve and if forced the fronts will lock up before the rear but generally the balance is good and they work well.

Geoff
Geoff King

Been out again for a second brief test, about 5 miles
Brakes are working fine with fronts and backs getting some heat.
Ive set it for maximum front bias until Ive done a couple of hundred steady miles then Ill play with the adjuster.

Geoff
Im also using calipers from a granada which I had reconditioned, But the handbrake doesnt seem to hold the car that well.
The lever pulls up about four or five clicks and just wont go any further. It feels like it should work well but doesnt.
Did U use the mg handbrake lever or a modified version.
Are you happy with the handbrake opperation on yours?

Mark


Mark

Mark,

I used a standard MGB handbrake lever pulling on two cables. No problem with the handbrake holding on the hills around here and the brakes easily passed the MOT.

Are the cables too tight perhaps? The cable should be adjusted so the lever on the caliper returns to the stop but just starts to move as the handbrake lever is pulled, a few pulls of the lever then sets the self adjuster to minimise the clearance between the pad and the disc.

Geoff
Geoff King

I have used the standard granada hand brake cable,only thing I had to make some weird/wonderfull brackets to hold it in place as its on a live axle,not independant as the granada is,the outer cable was ok but the inner needed about 3or4 foot off of it!
To get it to work you have to look at the pivott point on a granada h/brake lever and copy that.
Dave.
Dave L:owe

Paul, Jim

you have mail.

Dave The H/brake seems to be getting better.

Mark
Mark

Thanks Mark,

Typical home email down at moment.

Paul
Paul Wiley

The handbrake for the mga twin cam with rear discs never worked very well either.

How about a few pics for me?

fhorstmeyer@wi.rr.com

Thanx
Fred H

Fred

Pics on their way.

Mark
Mark

Mark,

Email for pics please:

andy@seventh-heaven.demon.co.uk

Thanks Andy H
Andrew Hamilton

Right.
Done 250 miles with new setup.
Handbrake is better but still not good enough, so that will need some work to increase the mechanical advantage of the lever.
The other problems that Ive got are.
The rears wont lock even with bias towards the back.
Excessive pedal pressure required difficult to lock wheels.
Pedal has a short stroke.
At the moment the rear M/C is 0.75inches dia. and the front M/C 0.625 inches dia.
I am thinking of going down 2 sizes on the back and 1 size on the front. Of course I have no Idea how much this will effect things but the beauty is that the system is totally adjustable and when set up properly I should have some stonkin brakes ( hopefully ).

Advice anyone?

Mark
Mark

Mark,

This may help

http://www.bgdevelopments.co.uk/index.htm

No instructions with kit?

Paul
Paul

Thanks Paul
Im confident that I have the balance bar adjusted OK.
Unfortunately I have to take it all apart to change the master cyls.
Oh Joy!

Mark
Mark

Hi Mark,

I don't visit this site a lot, but this sounds very interesting. Could you send some pics?
If you want to post your pics somewhere, I could put them on my site? No problem, just let me know.

Frank
Frank de Groot

This thread was discussed between 20/01/2004 and 25/01/2004

MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical BBS is active now.