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MGA 59 MGA rear wheel cylinders...HELP !

Porkchop

Freshman Member
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Well fellow MGA'ers.....Help... I am into replacing my rear wheel cylinders ...fronts went great ...Here is my dilemma...Since this is has been a 12 year project (getting close)...somewhere along the way I ended up with two new rear wheel cylinders..one BMC part number KWI 10, 17H7512, and a Lockheed part number 88692. Parts are identical. Both of these vintage boxes had a cross ref # of GWC1108 penned on them. I know the correct part is GWC 1111. The cylinders fit in their respective slots just fine ..but ..instead of the lever side having those two slightly raised tabs for the adjuster....they just have a slot for the brake shoe ends.....which means no adjuster.....UNLESS...by adjusting the Emergency Brake cable...from the pivot ... the adjustment would be taking place... ?? Has anyone run into these puppies before...? Am I correct on my thinking (feeble though it be)..? Or should I go online and search for a reasonable set (seems such a waste to not use these).... IDEAS and suggestions are more than welcome...thanks Porkchop ...
 
Brakes have to be right. If you can get the old upper pistons off the old ones then install them on the new cylinders. The main seal is under the inner piston so the function will still be as new with the old parts interchanged. Bob
 
I will check on monday to see if I have any around. I think I pitched or gave away all the MGA bits that were around here but there may be some hiding in a corner. If you do not get a PM on monday afternoon then no luck here. Bob
 
There is a lesson to be learned here.
Whether a production shop, or a 12-year project, never, as in ever, throw the old parts away (or return as "core") until you have installed the new parts and insure they look like the old ones, fit like the old ones, and work like the old ones should have.

As far as getting old pistons out, there are ways.

Big vise and selected sockets, brass fittings and a grease gun.
Clamp it in a vise with a socket (open end) over one piston, and fit a grease gun a pump.
Reverse procedure once it starts.
Then, pump one out, and drift the other from the open hole.

I have a spare Dunlop cast iron master for my Jag.
Can't get Dunlops anymore, have to go to an aluminium Girling and change lines...not interested.
This one was bad....as in real bad.

I tried all sorts of stuff, then went to the grease gun, and it haydraulic-ed right out.

Once apart, send your old cylinders off for sleeving.
 
Thanks for the lecture ....but I am not sure it twas I that pitched the cylinders ...might have been the previous owner....I do save all of the pieces parts...even after the new ones are on ....I have performed the grease gun trick on my A ...for the master cylinder ....It worked like a charm...great advice .... Larry
 
I know...I was just joking ....I ended up doing a little machine shop modification of the cylinders I have and all is working and fits perfectly ....God bless Yankee ingenuity ...LP
 
With these 40~50 year old cars we've all gotta put on th' MacGyver suit now and again. :wink:
 
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