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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Rear brake adjuster

Does anybody know if the threaded brake adjuster can be replaced through the hole where the wedges are, or does the backplate have to come off?
M J Chapman

Yes it comes out the front once you take the drum and shoes off.

I hope for your sanity it isn't rusted in. I had to cut one of mine out then weld back up the remnants of the back plate!

Malc.
Malcolm Le Chevalier

If its rusted in use plenty of good penetrating oil, plenty of patience and if necessary a little heat. Treat it all carefully; the backplate thread is very fine pitched and easily damaged. Good replacement backplates are hard to come by.
GuyW

Hi all I can supply blasted and powder coated back plates complete with adjusting screw and wedges £35 plus £3 uk delivery. Richard
rj woolley

Thanks everybody for your help.
The problem is that the thread seems to be stripped as it won't screw in and move the wedges apart. Hopefully with shoes removed, I can persuade it to screw right out. Fingers crossed its the screw thread that's goosed and I won't have to call on Richard's help.
M J Chapman

The backplate has a threaded boss insert which is what tends to strip, or wear. I suspect that the threaded pin is hardened to take wear from the wedges where the press onto it.

If you have access to a lathe it is possible to drill out the centre of the threaded boss and weld in a tapped insert. It can even be done in situ on the car. That said Richard's offer is a good one.

GuyW

My lucky day - just got away with it! (see photo)
New adjuster works fine.

M J Chapman

Lots of copper ease on the new one then!

I also slip a short off cut of rubber heater hose to form a collar in the space between the backplate and the supporting strap at the back. Then pack it with copper ease, and screw the adjuster in through the collar from the front. It keeps all of the road crud away from those delicate rust-prone threads!
GuyW

Well crap...

i didnt know those were replaceable inserts...i took my one of my back plates to a welder and had them braze in to hole redrilled it and retapped it

Still working and holding


prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Prop, they aren't replaceable normally. The insert in my photograph was made by a friend. It was just an easier way of doing the same as you achieved. But one can do it in situ on the car Saves having to remove the half shaft, hub and backplate.
GuyW

I've found the best way to lubricate them is to have catastrophic hub seal failure that fills the drum with gear oil. No issue at all with the adjuster siezing!
Rob Armstrong

Out of interest what is the thread used for the adjuster. It would be good to know for the record for anyone else in a similar position who needs to make such an insert. I have a frogeye and that uses the snail cam and they seem to work fine but were changed to the later style which seem to cause more problems in the long term.
David Billington

This thread was discussed between 30/09/2016 and 01/10/2016

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