• Hi Guest!
    You can help ensure that British Car Forum (BCF) continues to provide a great place to engage in the British car hobby! If you find BCF a beneficial community, please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

MGB Dumb emergency brake questions...help requested!

Share this page

B

Blackjokr

Jedi Warrior
Offline
so my 78 MGB's emergency brake at full pull has so little braking effect that it obviously needs and adjustment. About 5 years ago I was able to replace the emergency brake on a 79 Midget while it was on a lift. I no longer have access to that lift and need to jack up the car. i don't trust the included original jack, so my questions are:

1. best way to jack up the MGB and be SAFE while trying to adjust the brake?
2. is there a proces to do this? I have't done it in 5 years and honestly just remember tensioning up i the cable somewhere and I just don't remember the prooper steps. Can anyone give me soemdetial?
3. he regular brakes work fine. No squeaking, squealing and the car stops when pushed without having to overcompensate so I think the emergency brake line needs just some adjustment.

thanks!!

sorry for the ignorance!

Lou
 
Lou, If I remember correctly, there should be an adjustment on the cable, but I forget which end. PJ
 
Lou,
The adjustment nut is just about directly under the handbrake lever - on that end of the cable. The Haynes manual says to first make sure the rear brakes are adjusted, but if they are and the handbrake still isn't correct, then chock the front wheels and jack up the back wheels, with a floor jack if possible - then use a pair of good jack stands to support the back axle (never depend on any jack alone). Then check the rear brakes. If the handbrake still needs adjusting, then release the handbrake and adjust the tension on the cable using the brass (I think) nut until the rear brakes lock when the handle is pulled up 4 or 5 clicks. When you're finished, release the handbrake and make sure the rear brakes are still free. At least that's the way it worked when these cars were new...
 
thanks guys, once again I am indebted to all of you gurus out there!!
 
The bit about having the rear shoes properly adjusted first cannot be overstated.
 
The adjuster is 9/16ths and a ratcheting wrench will make quick work of it. The adjuster is roughly inline with the jack points.
 
Back
Top