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Hubs are off!

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goloch

goloch

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Not that anyone necessarily cares, but I got the hubs (along with rotors) off the front wheels. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif Hopefully I'll get the brakes back on the car tomorrow. Anyone have any insight on replacing caliper pistons? I'd like to do it myself rather than buy rebuild calipers to save some money.
 
I almost forgot! This article at Moss was invaluable in getting the grease cups out of the hub. If anyone knows the guy who wrote it, I owe him a beer. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
That article and Keoke's advice helped immensely in getting those blasted hubs apart.

If i hadnt found a head with a busted oil jacket and a possible cracked block, I'd have put everything back together. :-(
 
I blew my old pistons out with an air compressor. Building MGB calipers is kinda of a pain. I didn't split mine, tho' some do. When you do take them part, be careful not to damage the metal seal retaining ring. The new ones I got with my kit wouldn't go into the bores. They bend SUPER easy. I ended up, cleaning up my old retainer rings and reusing them. Good luck and have lots of patience.
 
Oh yeah, one reason, guys don't split the calipers is that the O rings between the calipers are no longer available.
 
Thanks for the tips. I'm going to proceed with getting the old pistons out myself and then make a decision from there. I've found that NAPA has rebuilt calipers for not that much more than what it's going to cost me to rebuild so if I get too frustrated, I'll just buy my way out of trouble.
 
Well, the old brake hoses made the decision for me about rebuilding the calipers myself by refusing to budge even after 24 hrs soaking in WD-40. I'll be ordering the Beck/Arnley rebuilt calipers from NAPA tomorrow and will probably end up installing them sometime in the middle of the week. I guess tomorrow I'll be putting the RF hub and rotor and both front wheels back on; I bent an oil seal today so I only put the LF back on. Then I'll lift the back end and see what's going on with the drums and shoes.
 
I bought the Beck/Arnley's through Advance Auto Parts. They were reasonably priced and seem to be in excellent condition.

I have found that Advance has alot more MG parts than most of their competitors.
 
I'm glad to hear about your good experience with the Beck/Arnley caliper. I have to admit I'm a little nervous about getting something not from Moss, but I can't justify paying their price ($30 more per caliper).
 
Gabe,

Next time your trying to free a corroded part, use a penetrating oil like PB Blaster or Kroil. WD40 Doesn't necessarily penetrate like the others, it's a light coating oil. The "WD" stands for "water displacement". You should be fine with the Beck Arnley calipers. Good luck on your brake job.
 
late is better than never I suppose... for future reference when you run across a part that just won't budge try a can of "Cyclo Break-Away". I used to swear by PB Blaster until I started using this stuff, now I won't use anything else.
(I think I bought it at Napa)
 
I'll definitely pick some up for the future. NAPA was a pain about the calipers (over a week!) so I ended up ordering from Advance and will have them Thursday. The front wheels are back on using the old grease cups as the old ones from Moss a) didn't fit and b) broke while trying to remove them. I'll definitely be returning them when I get the stuff for the carbs and back brakes.
 
Yup, both rear drums are stuck. I knew this looked too easy...

Time for a bigger hammer I think.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I almost forgot! This article at Moss was invaluable in getting the grease cups out of the hub. If anyone knows the guy who wrote it, I owe him a beer. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

[/ QUOTE ]


/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif well according to that article you wont get those drums off till sunday night....lol /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif

Good luck have a brew /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif and take your time..they will come


mark
 
More WD-40, 45 minutes spent helping my mom with her new iBook, and a bigger hammer (wrapped in a rag to prevent damage to the drum) and they came right off. Good news is that it looks like I won't need to machine/replace them right now, just the shoes and springs.
 
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