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MG MGB Technical - Removal of spring on tandem brake m/c remote switc

I am trying to dismantle a tandem brake m/c from an early 74 US spec MGB. The w/shop manual simply says compress the spring and remove the spirolox ring from the groove in the primary piston.

How the heck do you do that please?

Thanks. Tips/hints/suggestions welcome!

Paul
Paul Barrow

No easy task.

Back in the day when I would rebuild my own M/Cs, I used an old
small screwdriver that was reshaped and sharpened on a bench grinder.

I would jam this tool to under the open coil end of the Spirolox (it's really hard to see, and you have to feel around for it), and then pry and uncoil the rest of the Spirolox out of it's groove.

Most times you'll destroy the shape of the Spirolox.

Remember, you'll be doing this while pressing and holding in
the piston.

If you think this is fun...wait'll you get a load of trying to
separate - and then reassemble - the two piston
assemblies after you've put of the new seals.

As I said: No easy task.

Daniel Wong

You can say that again.

I located the end of that spirolox thing ... with a scriber and have got it off and the circlip. Boy though the nylon ring does not want to budge at all.

If it is replaced in the kit I think I am minded to apply some heat to the body to loosen it up - the car has been sat for 10+ years and it isnt moving even with a comressed air shunt (although the piston is)!!

Paul
Paul Barrow

Paul,

the service kit comes with a new nylon ring. It is impossible to remove the old one the way explained in the manuals. I found it easy to drill holes into the nylon and set in some screws to have a 'handle' that can be griped.
It works.

Ralph
Ralph

Thanks Ralph - I will do something along those lines too then. I'll bet the second circlip behind it is a devil to get to too!

Paul
Paul Barrow

Well, the trick with the screws worked, I even have the second circlip out, but cant seem to get the washer out from behind it! Any suggestions on that please?

Paul
Paul Barrow

As an interesting conclusion to this thread - yes dismantling can be done - I have now achieved it, however, the juice isnt worth the squeeze frankly. I certainly cannot be bothered to stick it all back together having been forwarned that it is nearly as much fun as taking it apart so I am buying a new one!

Paul
Paul Barrow

This thread was discussed between 19/05/2008 and 28/05/2008

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