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MG TD TF 1500 - TD front brake drums

Ive been offered $40 per drum. Is that a good price and how do they come off they appear to be stuck on.
DCD Durlin

Not sure I understand your question. You are selling your brake drums for $40 each? Makes stopping hard...

Brake drums at stock are 9"; what do yours measure? I just threw away 6 accumulated brake drums that were .100" or more oversize, as they are worthless and dangerous. I've bought good drums on eBay for $10 each, and seen them for $100 or more. Does $40 include the bearings and spacer? Shipping is also a big factor, as they are heavy.

After backing off the adjusters, you need a puller for the front drums, as the bearings are a tight fit on the spindles.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Tom
I appreciate your comments on worn out drums. I have a TF with wire wheels. I think the drums are 60 years old, like the rest of the car. I have new shoes and cylinders, but braking seems "weak". System is very well bled.
Could you educate me.
How do I measure them?
Please explain more what ".100" oversize" means.
Is that inside diameter? Why would a drum that is .100 oversize be junk?

Thanks
Tom
'54 TF
T Norby

Tom - I know yours was not the original question (still not sure what it was), but let me try to help yours: Wire wheels are an entirely different proposition.

First of all, there is something wrong with your brakes if you can's stop on a dime. Properly set-up stock T-series brakes do just fine in stopping our little cars - there is something out of whack if they don't.

What cylinders do you have? Did you replace the hoses as well, and flush the system? Any leaks? What about the master cylinder? Did you mount the front wheel cylinders with the forward wheel cylinder pointing down? How have you adjusted your brakes? Where is the pedal when you first step on the brakes?

As for drums, you would notice that they are oversize when you try to adjust them; you would run out of adjustment, and/or have a low pedal. I use a drum micrometer to measure, and .100" oversize (inside diameter) is my limit for safe use. There are people who put a clipped penny under the adjusters to get a bit tighter adjustment, but that isn't really the solution; it just masks the problem for a while.

If this is tedious for others, I'm happy to continue off-line.

Best, Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Tom, how could you mount the front cylinders wrong? The cross over line wouldn't fit, or am I somewhere else on this? PJ
Paul S Jennings

Tom,
Continue as you please. I eat this stuff for breakfast!.
Vince
Vincent Piña

The problem with oversized brake drums is twofold. 1, as material is removed, the drum loses its structural stability and its capacity to dissipate heat; and 2, the main reason not to overcut is that the friction material on the shoe will not conform to the increased diameter of an overcut drum effectively. A somewhat spongy pedal and greatly decreased brake performance will be the result. Years ago, when all cars had drum brakes, it was commonplace for the machine shop that cut the drums to also Arch the shoes to specifically match their respective drums. This was done on a brake lathe that had a corresponding fixture with a sanding drum that removed material from the center of the shoe to allow full contact of the shoe heel to toe to compensate for the increased drum diameter. Recently, I had a fellow bring me a 38 VA Tickford, a magnificent example. One of his complaints was poor breaking performance. When I removed the drums, it was obvious the shoes were contacting the drums only in the center – NO HEEL to toe contact. No one in the Chicago area had an old time brake lathe to arch the shoes. Most of them knew what was required, but I heard the same story … “we got rid of that years ago.” I am sure somewhere, these old machines are still in use. Ask an old school mechanic. Shims under the adjusters will bring the shoes outward but it will be a lot of unsafe driving until the shoes “BREAK IN” BE CAREFUL. 9.000 drums and corresponding 9,.000 shoes are best. I suppose you could try to source overthick linings (brake shoes) and have them ground down, but this would probably cost more than buying the proper drums to begin with.

Columbuia Restorations
Gregory S.
La Grange Il
(708) 715-5517
GMS Serduke

I know you can for wire wheels, but can you buy new drums for disc wheel cars?
Kevin McLemore

There's no outside visible difference between mounting the brake cylinder right side up or upside down, and the crossover pipe fits either way.

Points well taken, Gregory. The drums get weaker and weaker as they get thinner, which is why I very seldom turn a brake drum - they just don't need it. Sandpaper or Scotchbrite pads clean up any rust or pitting. I also agree about brake arcing - I have rubber-cemented sandpaper to the drum and worked the shoes back and forth until there is full contact.

I did buy a brake arcing machine, but have not set it up yet. You have to know the diameter of each drum in order to correctly arc the shoes, and most people don't have a brake drum caliper.

Tom Lange
MGT TRepaier
t lange

Kevin,
No new brake drums at the moment, just look out for somebody changing to wires and pounce.
Tom,
I think that the main problem is that our right foot is conditioned to over servoed systems on our daily drivers.I have an East European car called a Dacia and every time I brake only the seat belt stops me going through the screen.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

Ray - I do know a few people who have added servos to their T-series cars, although I just err on the side of caution, and keep plenty of distance between me and the car in front.

I briefly considered offering brake-arcing services to T-series owners, but decided that the cost of sending the drums and shoes back and forth was simply too great to
make it worthwhile for anyone.

Tom
t lange

Tom,
I don't have a servo but find my brakes work fine for me. I occasionally drive a friends TD with servo and although less effort is required they don't seem to have the same feel as mine.
I fitted the systems on both cars with the same shoes and cylinders and even with the servo off the feel is different.Both have hard pedals so it is not that.
His has wires and new drums all round and shoes matched to the drum curve.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

Tom Maine
Thank you. All the items you mentioned in line 4 above have been renewed (cylinder, hoses, etc).
I know my drums are quite worn because I have installed a set all around of the modified adjuster masks that O'Conner used to make and sell.
For the reasons Gregory S. describes above, I am sure my drums are overly worn.
I will add at least front drums to my "list" and watch for a good deal.

Tom
'54 TF
T Norby

Tom - find an old-time garage or brake shop, and they will be able to mic the drums, so you know where you stand. Or let me know, and I will lend you mine.

Tom Lange
t lange

This thread was discussed between 02/08/2014 and 03/08/2014

MG TD TF 1500 index

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