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MG MGF Technical - Big Brake Kit

As my pads and discs need changing i was going to purchase a set of greenstuff pads and discs. However looking around you can get the big brake kit. I have 16inch wheels so no problem there. My main questions are...

1) Are they straight forward enough to fit e.g. just nuts and bolts (Bit like changing normal disc and pads)

2) Does it make that much difference???

Also my back brakes/discs need changing. Normally i would use a screw driver to prise the old pads open but Ive seen a rear brake removal tool. Is this really necessary when i was going to replace the whole thing???

Any help would be gratelly recieved
Chris Glen

Chris, I'm not qualified to discuss big brake kits but recently changed my rear pads. The tool is a caliper piston wind back tool NOT a pad removal tool. Unlike many rear calipers, the pistons do not simply push back but wind back and reset the handbrake as well (very simplisticly). The tool is not totally necessary, most people never buy one but just use the end of a decent steel rule or similar. I bought the tool and it made an easy job a doddle.
JohnP

Cheers John
Chris Glen

Chris,

I always felt that the brakes on my F could only ever be described as adequate. They worked fine, but I always felt that to get them to work properly you had to push really hard on the pedal. About three weeks ago my car was in at Mike Satur's getting lowered, adjustable shockers and poly bushes fitted and it was also my intention to do something with the brakes, but what. After discussing the matter with Mike and discounting the AP four pot callipers (because I wanted to keep my 15" wheels) I went for his Big Brake kit (280mm drilled and vented discs which retains the original callipers) on the front and uprated grooved and drilled discs (240mm) on the back with Mintex 1144 pads all round and stainless steel hoses. It was felt that this was the most that I could go for while keeping my original wheels and since I'm never likely to have the car on the track, this setup should be more than adequate. To date front / back balance has not been a problem and I can now stop " on a sixpence" with
little effort

Unless your 16" wheels are Trophy or TF160 ones you won't easily be able to go down the four pot calliper road, in which case I would suggest that you consider a setup similar to mine.

http://www.csmgf.co.uk/darkside/others/bigbrakes.jpg

http://www.csmgf.co.uk/darkside/others/Rear_disc.jpg
David Clelland

Does the back then utilise the same discs as the front???
Chris Glen

Chris, have a look at Rob Bell's site. There is a very good section on brake options under the Technical & DIY tab. http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/
JohnP

Thanks John :o)

>> Does the back then utilise the same discs as the front??? <<

Same diameter yes (240mm), but different thickness: remember that the front discs are vented, whereas the rears are solid. So sadly, no, you can't move your front discs to the rear and retain the standard rear caliper: there simply isn't the clearance :o(
Rob Bell

Rob,

I've picked this up on Mintex- did you order your set?

Mintex M1177 COF .61 (dropping off a little after 500 degrees C but still holding a massive .55 c.o.f at 700 degrees C), Mintex M1166 sprint compound at .47, Mintex M1155 targa/endurance compound at .43 and Mintex M1144 (Formula Ford compound) at .45

Paul
Paul

Hi Chris

go 2 www.hispecmotorsport.co.uk

im going to get the 4 pot for the front & 2 pot for the back wheels the back 1,s have a hand brak thingey
so u can use the hand brak.

Hugs Tasha....Xx
Natasha Storme

Tasha,

The problem with Hispec is that you can never seem to get hold of them. I'm told that it's good gear, but that's no use if you can't buy it :-(

DC
David Clelland

>> I've picked this up on Mintex- did you order your set? <<

No, not yet! Both of my computers (work and home) suffered from hardware collapse within days - so I've lost information on costs - but we'd be taking somewhere in the region of 74 quid for front pads and 54 for the rears: minimum order of 3 sets. We had enough orders to go for the rears, but only two orders for the fronts...

Time for a new thread?
Rob Bell

>> The problem with Hispec is that you can never seem to get hold of them. I'm told that it's good gear, but that's no use if you can't buy it :-(

So true, but so worth the hassle. :-)

Have proven very helpful when I've got hold of them and full of good honest advice.

Just persist and keep calling back.

Paul (Used to have 1177s all round. Now have 1177s at rear on std callipers and 1155s on Billet4 HiSpec brakes under 15" 5-spoke VVC wheels)
Paul Nothard

Rob,

How strange, as same pads should really be used both ends.

Massive increase in braking performance and balanced and if work from cold, fairly cheap upgrade.

Paul
Paul

From what Tasha has said, it looks as though HiSpec have finally brought out the rear brake kit - hurrah! Keep us posted Tasha - I know quite a few folks who'd be interested in this option.

BTW been talking to a Lotus brake supplier regarding another brake option... early days at present though - so this will not be a quick fix solution.
Rob Bell

>> How strange, as same pads should really be used both ends. <<

True - except that Dave has AP racing 304mm front brakes; fitting 1177s to them would lead to quite a brake imbalance, whereas 1177s on the rear and milder 1144s in the four pots ought to balance things out a bit...
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed between 15/04/2004 and 16/04/2004

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