Brake issue

[steveg]

So the brakes work properly with 3/4" pedal travel. Is the heat shield a factory item?

 

[Michael Oritt]

Steve--

So it seems, though more driving will be necessary in order for me to feel fully confident.

There never was a "heat shield" per se but rather a heat insulation wrap around the pipes in the vicinity of the MC. I have yet to replace it but plan to as it can only help.

 

[Bob_Spidell]

I got an aftermarket heat shield--similar to the ones for 6-cyl cars, but I haven't installed it yet--but danged if I can remember where I got it (might have been DWM).

 

[CraigC]

Steve--

So it seems, though more driving will be necessary in order for me to feel fully confident.

There never was a "heat shield" per se but rather a heat insulation wrap around the pipes in the vicinity of the MC. I have yet to replace it but plan to as it can only help.

Michael, I highly doubt that heat played any part in this. When I was driving my 100 as my "daily", I routinely dealt with temps in the high 80's to low 100's from May through September. The only time I had a problem similar to yours was when I, as a 17 year old just starting to drive the Healey, made the same mistake of adjusting the pedal pushrod to raise the effective point of brake application relative to pedal movement. After being helped by my father's mechanic, the issue was corrected and has never returned. My pedal freeplay is 3/16". Actual brake application starts at about 3/4" pedal movement.

From the factory, there was never any heat shielding of the brake master or lines.

If you haven't performed the procedure I detailed above, please give it a try. It is helpful to be able to ascertain exactly how much of the pedal travel is pushrod clearance. You may find that you still have room for some "fine tuning" of that adjustment

I got an aftermarket heat shield--similar to the ones for 6-cyl cars, but I haven't installed it yet--but danged if I can remember where I got it (might have been DWM).

I think it is probably DWM, but it's purpose is to reduce the heat getting to the carbs.

So the brakes work properly with 3/4" pedal travel. Is the heat shield a factory item?

As mentioned above, there was no factory installed heat shielding.

 

[Bob_Spidell]

Here's the heat shield I bought:

https://www.ahspares.co.uk/austin-healey/performance-parts/fuel-engine-bay/heatshield-100m.aspx