MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Sprite Brake Pipe Clips

Whilst refurbing the brakes on a Frogeye one of the simplest jobs appears not to be as straight forward.

There must be a simple way to fit the brake pipe retaining clips to the holes in the metal rails on the underside of the floor.
Should the open end be closed and pushed through the rear of the hole or the closed end pushed backwards through the appropriate hole or is there something obvious I am missing that makes the job easier?

Thanks
Tim

Tim Lynam

Tim
When I rebuilt the Frog, I didn't use those things other than on top of the front crossmember. Instead I used rubber lined P clips and screwed them through the holes in the body (in my case the underbody brake line runs inside the tunnel but the fuel line is external).

If your carpets are bonded in place I realise you can't easily do this but P clips could still be held with self tappers, the carpets covering the sharp ends. In my view, P clips are far superior.
Bill Bretherton

Bill, that’s a good option as all new carpets have not yet been fitted.
Tim Lynam

Tim, I used some large split pins with an 'eye' big enough to go around the pipe, and shortened ends. I also use short pieces of plastic windscreen washer tube slipped over vulnerable parts of the pipes. i.e. under those clips and on exposed bends in the pipe where it might get blasted by road debris. When I remember, I slide the tube onto the pipe before making the flared ends. But otherwise the bits of tube are just slit down the length.
GuyW

Yes its a fiddle! I pushed the closed end through the hole in the chassis rail. I did finf however that some of the aftermarket clips were bigger that the origianals and the holes needed a litte adjustment.
Bob Beaumont

Cheers Bob, I didn’t want to start drilling the holes if I was missing something, but good to know you found the same issue.
Tim Lynam

Hi Tim,

I also found those clips very difficult to fit and ended up with the same solution as Bob for the fuel line.

Brake line I’m the same as Bill, through the transmission tunnel.

Good luck

James


James Paul

Pointy end first. They are a bit of a faff. I found it easier to put the pipe onto the clip first then push the clip into the hole. I tried the clip first followed by pipe but lost one inside the cross member!!!!
Rob
MG Moneypit

Thanks to everyone for the tips, what a pain of a job but much easier after the holes were made a bit bigger, all nicely secured and on to the next job.
Tim Lynam

Still 'on topic' - anyone know what these clips are called? Or have a part number. They clip the fuel pipe to the edge of the chassis rails. I only have this one clip, but could do with 3 or 4 to do the job properly.
Or failing that - anyone got an alternative work around?

GuyW

Guy, I'm not sure what the official name for them is but I recently found these on eBay. These are stainless steel and are designed to secure thick wires to solar panels and are available in many sizes. These particular clips have double holding points for my Mk2 Sprite which has the brake pipe and fuel pipe running down the chassis rail on the same side.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/315765255114

Rob
MG Moneypit

Pretty sure I bought mine from Moss, although it was 25 years ago.

https://www.moss-europe.co.uk/en-gb/clip-main-feed-pipe-to-chassis-rail-17h9603
Dave O'Neill 2

Dave O' I bought some of those for my petrol feed pipe but they were too small. Talking to the supplier I was told they fit both petrol and brake pipes? When I said I couldn't fit them to my petrol pipe I was told to force them on. Then the (usual) final comment from the supplier, "we've never had any complaints for these"?
Rob
MG Moneypit

Rob, is this to do with pipe being measured by internal diameter, whilst the clips are being recorded by clip size?
GuyW

This thread was discussed between 28/10/2024 and 17/11/2024

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS now