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T-Series MG TD brake help needed, please

Matt_F

Senior Member
Offline
The front right brake on my TD is locking up. It's getting progressively worse. It used to be that I could adjust the drum and it would turn freely. Now the brake applies itself all the time.

I read in an old repair manual (T-series specific) that this could be often be a master cylinder problem.

I went to pull the brake drum, but couldn't get past the outer wheel bearing. (I was also overly gentle because I didn't want to hurt the bearing.)

So my questions are:
#1 Is there a trick for removing the outer wheel bearing?
#2 Is this the kind of problem that simply bleeding the brakes will fix?
#3 Are there replacement parts (seals, springs, and so on) that I should have on hand if I'm going in there?

Thank you in advance,

Matt
 
#1 Rotate both shoe adjusters all the way down, Open the bleeder to remove any pressure built up,use a drum puller to remove the drum. The bearings are sometimes rooted to the drum and the axle, so don't be afraid to crank down on the center bolt and smack it with a BFH to break things loose (the outer bearing comes off with the wheel, the inner bearing may or may not come off with the wheel).

#2 Bleeding the cylinder for that particular wheel may correct the problem for the moment, but if it does, then your problem is a flex hose that is deteriorating and a flap of the material internally is acting as a check valve. More often the problem is a wheel cylinder that is sticky and not retracting properly.

#3 You will definitely need a new grease seal for the inner bearing and should get two wheel cylinder rebuild kits. Moss carries all the necessary parts.
Cheers,
 
Don't forget to have some grease to repack the bearings when you have them out! And lots of cleaner on hand to keep the area clean. Give the springs a real good cleaning and you should be good to go after the cylinder rebuild and flexhose are in shape...good luck!

Bruce
 
I would like to recommend, before you pony up for a master cylinder, replace the flexible brake hose to that wheel cylinder...
 
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