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MG MGA - Rear Brake Drum Screw Holes

Continuing taking parts out of boxes I now discover the rear brake drum holes that fix the drum to the axle do not line up. I thought maybe the drums had got reversed L to R but they had not. My first conclusion is are they the right drums?. They show a number by Mowog(Qualcast) ATB 7075 on both drums. This is 1600 1960 ROADSTER. Help Clive.
c allen

ABT7075 is the correct number for the brake drum, for disc wheels or wire wheels. There should be two countersunk holes for flat head screws in the drum. A third hole is straight through. This hole should be aligned with the single flat head screw that holds the hub together before the drum is installed. After installation of the drum, and the screws are tightened, you can have access to the first screw to tighten it more. This will hold the hub together better when the drum is removed later.

If the holes do not like up this way there must be something wrong with the hub parts. Any chance you are trying to put this drum on Salsbury (tube type) axle from 1968 or later MGB?
Barney Gaylord

Thanks Barney for your reply.I do not know if this is a mgb salsbury type. The rear axle looks very new. I will check tomorrow the drum holes and let you know. Another Q I should have included originally for clarification. The wheel spinners show nearside on the left rear axle with an arrow pointing left to undo the same way the wheel revolves?. Is this correct?. Clive..
c allen

Yes. They are right hand threads on the left side, and left hand threads on the right side. The easy way to remember is, if you drive close to a tall curb, and the spinner lands on top of the curb while you are going forward, it will get very tight, and it will not unscrew itself.
Barney Gaylord

I have just tried fitting the drums onto the axle as you explained Barney and there is a difference of 5/16 more so the drums holes will not line up. Now what?. I tried checking a number on the axel and found slight marking of what looks like a 5 and 0 but nothing else. Soooooooooo??. Clive..
c allen

How about a picture? Which holes do not line up?
Barney Gaylord

Unfortunately I cannot send you a picture at this momenet but I will try and do this ASAP if needed. The holes that do not line up are the two holes that screw the drum to the axel. I have done a closer inspection of the axel and find numbers that look like this either 5661 or 5351? Any help. Thanks Barney for taking the interest. Clive..
c allen

The axel nunbers are possible 5661 or 5361?..
c allen

Don't sweat it. The wheel nuts hold the drums on.You could always drill another.

Art Pearse

Like Art says I know modern cars use a type of star washer to hold the drum on while it's waiting to be installed on the assembly line,once the wheel is on it's not going anywhere
gary starr

Thanks Art and Gary my thoughts were the same the wheel nuts hold the drums on so why a big deal. I just wanted to be sure I was not missing anything for safety sake. Still a puzzle as to why the drums are this way though.. Thanks again. Oh I hope you all won't mind me asking further questions as I try and put these boxes of parts in some sort of recognizable form.. Clive..
c allen

Thats why we're here - to help each other out!
Art Pearse

Thank you Art.
c allen

Clive - do you have wire wheels or disc wheels? If they are wires, is it an aftermarket wire wheel conversion with replacement half-shafts fitted to splined hubs (on the rear), and is it the holes in these hubs that do not line up with the brake drums? This has happened to me and I queried the supplier who said that the splined hubs were made to original spec drawings. He couldn't explain why they didn't line up. I've been told by someone over this side of the pond that the threaded holes in these hubs were to assist with future removal by screwing two bolts in so that they pushed against the bearing carrier section of the hub. The holes in the drums were redundant, and the drums are held in place by nuts and locking tabs fitted to the studs in the bearing carrier. Hope this helps.
David
D Jacobs

Hi Clive,

I hope I'm not stating the obvious.

You did try the drum at all 4 possible positions? The holes are not a proper 90 degree spacing.

Paddy

Paddy Reardon

Yes I did try all positions and even tried mentally to make it fit.Thanks Paddy. David the car has wire wheels and as you can see in my previous threads I obtained it in boxes and the body in two pieces.That being said I do not know if this is the original axel and I have my doubts it is as its very clean and painted with a high gloss and what appears fitted with new suspensions front and rear.You could say the axel hub does not line up with the drums holes or visa versa. This car was just being restored and then it changed hands to the person I got it from who stored it for years lost interest and thats when I came along. Sorry this became long winded. Thank you for your response. Clive..
c allen

This thread was discussed between 20/03/2013 and 23/03/2013

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