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MG MGB Technical - Sticking Brakes

Hi,

My rear brakes seem to have developed a problem were they sometimes appear to stick. When i am slow down to stop the brakes appear to grab resulting in a rather jerky stop & sometimes when i pull away the brakes stick & then release. I am pretty sure that it's the rear brakes as it usually happens after i park the car & use the parking brake. However if anyone has had any experience of the same problem with the front brakes i would be grateful to hear about it.

I don't have any problems with the actual stopping power of the brakes which seems spot on.

Cheers guys

Scott
Scott Ralph

Are they contaminated with oil or brake fluid?
Chris Betson

Scott,

In other threads I did read it could be due to 'tired' brake hoses..
They swell in aging to the inside, after braking the contraction of them slows down the running back
of the brake fluid.. After some time fluid has seeped through and the brakes are free again..

Could this happen on your car?

rob
NL
rob

Scott
I would go a long with Rob’s comments. You will not be able to see if they are 'tried', you see it is the inside that collapses. In addition, may I suggest the following?
I have experienced a similar sticking as you have described. This was down to a sticking brake servo. I would also look at the brake cylinders too.
Cecil Kimber

Seems more like a mechanical problem to me, some enthusiasts dismantle drum brakes at each 3k service, ensure adjusters turn freely when not under tension, and (carefully)copper grease every point of metal to metal contact.Check position of return springs against Haynes or Workshop manual drawings to make sure the PO got it right.

If you have just fitted new shoes, then you might find that the leading edges need to be chamfered as otherwise they can have a tendency to jamb up. ( care not to inhale the dust)

best of luck
Colin
'67B
Colin Brown

Thanks guys,

the "tired" hoses was something i read about in the archive, am i right in thinking that the steel braided hoses will help to eliminate this? But before i go down that route i'll check the brake cylinders & make sure every metal to metal contact point is greased with copper grease.

Chris - as far as i can see i have no oil/brake fluid contamination, but i'll have another good check when i do the above.

Colin - The shoes are not new, but i'll check to see i have no lipped edges that may be causing the problem.

Any other ideas anyone?

Cheers

Scott
Scott Ralph

>am i right in thinking that the steel braided hoses will help to eliminate this?
It will but only because they are new. They could suffer the same problem with age. Steel braided hoses will improve the braking effectiveness. The brakes should feel firmer because the hoses do not expand when pressure is applied.
Cecil Kimber

Teah, I had the brake hose problem, but on the front brakes. The caliper wouldn't release. You can test the hose by locking the brakes then cracking the hosefitting, if the brakes release, you've found your problem!
Bill Pilon

Grabbing doesn't seem like hoses to me but something mechanical on the rears. At one point mine started grabbing so fiercely as soon as I started to reverse the only way I could move the car bacwards was to get out and push. A dodgy brake servo can cause all the brakes to lock on, a dodgy hose will cause just one front caliper, or both rear drums, to lock on.
Paul Hunt

This thread was discussed between 17/04/2002 and 18/04/2002

MG MGB Technical index

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