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Divided brake master cylinder

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A

A. Claffie

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71 MGB, dug out of the barn after 11 years, "ran when parked"

Brakes don't work. Filled the master cylinder and pumped, got some semblance of a pedal which was encouraging. But after a couple days I'll check the master cylinder level and the back half will still be full while the front half will be empty. Where does fluid from the front half go (front brakes? back brakes? left front and right rear?)? I'm sure I'm going to wind up replacing hoses/cylinders all around but to at least get the car to the point where I can get it running and moving around in the driveway, if I can get this question answered to help pinpoint the leak, that might save me some diagnosis time.
 
If the car has been setting that long, there's a lot that has to be done before it's safe to take on the road. Probably all wheel cylinders and master cylinder needs rebuilding. The carbs also should be rebuilt as their probably full of varnish.
Tony Barnhills article on "How to wake a sleeping B" is something everyone reviving a car that has been stored for an extended period should be read. I don't have the link to the article, but I'm sure someone on this board has. Hang in there, as I'm sure someone will get back on Tonys article. PJ
 
Notice how people love to help you spend all your free time ? Simple answer, larger half of the res goes to the disc brakes and the smaller half goes to the drums. ( I have a copy of the writeup mentioned above and it's good BUT for parsimonious people it's overkill). I hope you don't have trouble with the master cylinder they are a nightmare to take apart and worse to go together and expensive to buy new !Pa
 
I've been perusing the 'wake up MG' list and it certainly is comprehensive. I'm at the point where I want the car to start and stop so it's easier to move around the driveway: further work to be more roadworthy can wait (hardly in a hurry).

I was afraid the smaller reservoir was going to the rear, that's a lot more brake line to examine/replace. Not a big deal regardless.

DNK said:
Any relationship here
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We're related by marriage.
 
Look at the bright side, from a cost point of view, I'd much rather replace a wheel cylinder rather than a caliper. Before you spend a day jacking up and chasing lines etc, pull the rear wheels and drums to eliminate the leaky wheel cylinder possibility from the equation. Pa

Yes, I married his mother.
 
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