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MG MG Y Type - FRONT BRAKES

Hi Guys,

If I was wanting to upgrade my YA to YB twin leading front brakes, am I right in assuming the brake back plate and brake drum off a TD or YB will fit straight onto the existing front stub axle ?

regards Chris
C A Pick

From memory of some years ago (1980's I think) I recall a chap who attempted this. It's possible his efforts may have been mentioned in an old copy of 'The Classic Y' newsletter John Lawson used to issue. From what I recall it's not as straighforward as it seems - the whole braking system is different not to mention the YA 16 inch wheels as opposed to the 15 in on the YB. It may be easier and cheaper to recondition what you have rather than going down this route. Until someone who has done it can say one way or the other I would stick with the original system. Try ringing NTG and asking Mike Green.
D MULLEN

Hi Chris

Have a word with Neil Cairns the Y Type guru. He also owns a YB

Properly set up YA brakes are pretty good though!
All the best

Jerry
J P BIRKBECK

Jerry is quite right there.

The key to the efficiency of any braking system is maintenance. As he says, properly set up and adjusted the brakes on a Y are very good!

Are the drums the same on Y Y/Ts to YBs?

Paul
Paul Barrow

Thanks all for your comments, on further investigation I think I have to change the stub axles also which is a straight forward job provided I can locate some.

I accept that regularly maintained YA brakes are adequate, however as I am use to driving my TD, I am use to the excellent braking of a twin leading front brake arrangement and as I am carrying out a body off restoration of the YA I feel it would be an easy enough and worthwhile upgrade, providing I can locate the parts.

As I completed a full nut and bolt rebuild on my TD I am very familiar with the YB/TD braking system and will be able to compare the stub axles perhaps I need to do that sooner rather than later.

Kind regards Chris.


C A Pick

Totally T Type carried an article on fitting a servo to I think a TC which looked a fairly straight forward job. Also I never ran out of brakes while towing the caravan with the YA over the Alpes, mark you the caravan brakes were powerful enough on overun to help slow the car down hill! Bryan
B Mellem

I am sure that it is possible to fit twin leading shoe front brakes to a YA. My YB is one of the early ones, which had the YA single leading shoe front brakes with 15" wheels fitted at the factory. The car was restored by the previous owner, who fitted twin leading shoe front brakes.

I have a receipt for a pair of used stub axles with steering swivels, brake back plates and wishbones, for the sum of £50 in 2002. All of these appear to have been fitted to the car. This would indicate that the two types of front brakes are interchangeable as long as you also fit the stub axles and back plates, and, possibly, also the wishbones.

I hope this helps.

Mike
M Long

I have upgraded the front brakes on my Y special Y3222 by replacing the front drums with cast iron & finned TC drums, these come with 6 holes for the TC hub however, there is enough metal to re-drill for 5 holes for the Y type hub. These being cast iron do not distort and create more friction than steel. It is hard work to match the TD back plates to a Y/TC drum so I added a brake booster, there are some details in my notes in interesting Ys: Y3222.

Regards,

Brad
B Wilson

Guess what guys,

I missed the obvious!!!! the 16" wheels are a different PCD to the YB/TD brake drum and 15" wheels on the front would definitely not look right. So standard brakes it is then.

Regards Chris

C A Pick

Hi Chris

You are not alone. I did wonder ... to myself ... if that was going to be a problem but wasnt sure so didnt speak up earlier. You know the phrase "You learn something new everyday", well that was it for me so I can go to bed happy now!

Thanks for the knowledge.

Paul
Paul Barrow

This thread was discussed between 18/07/2011 and 20/07/2011

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