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Rear brakes getting hot!?

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RetroAuto

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Hi there! I am new to this site and I am hoping that someone out here can help me. I have a 1963 MG Midget that I have just got back out on the road. I have noticed that my rear hubcaps are very hot. I can smell the brakes as well. I thought that my emergency brake might be sticking? Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks for your help! I have heard some squeaking as well sometimes! Angela
 
Angela, welcome to the best British Car site in the world.
Incidentally, I have a '63 as well.
The occasional squeaking noise you hear bothers me a bit. I'd pull the drums and make sure the shoes are properly assembled first. If all is OK, try this:
Make sure that the rears are properly adjusted. In your case, I would disconnect the emergency brake cable for now, and adjust each side until you can't rotate the wheel by hand. Then, back off the adjuster until the wheel will <u>just</u> spin without the shoes dragging.
While the cable is disconnected, make sure it moves freely in its housing, and check to make sure all of the linkage and pushrods are free to operate. A small dab of white grease at the pivot points won't hurt.
There is a grease fitting on the cable that you should hit with a few pumps of a grease gun. If everything looks good, reconnect the cable and proceed.
To adjust the emergency brake, pull the lever to the third click, and adjust the cable using the nut at the rear of the cable housing until you can just barely rotate the wheels. Release the brake, and make sure the wheels now turn easily, with no drag.
Try this, and let us know how it turns out. We may have to get deeper into the system, but hopefully this'll take care of the problem.
Dragging rear brakes are no fun, and they can cook axle seals in short order.
If you don't yet have a manual for the car, I'd suggest the Bentley manual for the 948-1098 cars.
Good luck,
Jeff
 
Another quick check is to see if the rubber brake hose is collapsed.
Jack up the rear of the car, spin the wheels, now pump the brake pedal a few times, let off, and see if the wheels still spin.
If not, suspect the rubber hose. If the hose is 10 years old or more, change it before it bursts and you have no brakes.
Hoses have the date of manufacture embosed on them.
Do NOT save old rubber hoses, cut them and throw them away.
 
We replaced the rear brake hose and that seemed to have fixed the problem. Thanks for your help! Now I have a new problem!!!! I will post a new thread! Hopefully you guys can help me out! Angela
 
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