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MG MGB Technical - rear brake cylinder clips

I know I've seen discussions on how to install these !@#$%^&* !!! clips that hold the rear brake cylinders, but I forget. Could you help me , can't get them on my new cylinders. Thanks.
Tom

I think an even better Q is what can you replace them with?
Ken R
Ken Rich

My midget uses Belville (sp?) washers and
conventional snap rings, which are easy to put
on compared to the horrible E-clips. I'm sure
the same setup would work on a B.

If you can find the right size Belville (curved)
washer, you can get the right size snap ring at
any auto parts store.
Ronald

Tom,
I did mine a couple of years ago. Took a wood dowel rod about 8-10 inches long. Cut a slot on one end with a thin hand saw. Slipped that end of the dowel over the bent portion of the clip and smacked the other end with a hammer. Took about one minute per side.
Good Luck,
Mike
Mike Crowley

Ronald - you can no longer get the Belville washers.....

All, Lockheed do a special tool for fitting these - it costs around $30 and you can get it from Moss.

You could make one if you are inclined - take a 4 inch threaded rod that will screw into the fluid inlet of the cylinder - machine a cone with 45 degree sides that will slide over the rod and is the same outside diameter as the cylinder boss - take a 2 inch piece of tube the same inside diameter as the the cylinder boss - take a heavy washer the same size as the outside of the tube and a nut that will fit on the threaded rod.

To use - screw the rod into the cylinder - place the cone on the rod wide end first - place the clip ( dished side away from the cylinder) on tne rod - pcace the tube on the rod - place the washer and nut on the rod - do up the nut , forcing the clip up the cone and onto the cylinder and into its groove at the same time pulling the cylinder against the backplate .

Neat -- eh??
Chris Betson

A while back I asked my local mg specialist how he fitted them, and he told me that unless originality was a requirement then he didn't use them. Instead you can use an ordinary suitably sized circlip - much easier to get on and off. I've been using circlips now for some time now and encountered no problems.
Miles Banister

Nearly all NAPA stores have a huge assortment of single-sale snaprings, circlips, and wavewashers in behind-the- counter boxes. NAPA also sells GM brake pipe clips which slide in and out, although they need a bit of grinding or filing to fit exactly. For years I used a stainless steel hose clamp in place of the factory brake clips and never had one come loose, but either the circlips or snaprings,with a single wave washer, take about 2 seconds to pop on and off.
Mark Childers

Tom,
A tip found on the Chicagoland MG website might help:
http://www.chicagolandmgclub.com/techtips/536.html
RichB
RichB

This thread was discussed between 21/04/2002 and 23/04/2002

MG MGB Technical index

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