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MG MGF Technical - handbrake adjustment

I have just put my 96 VVC MGF in for an MOT and they have rung up and said that the handbrake on one wheel is not good enough. They said that there is no adjustment on them and the only solution is a new caliper at about £75 + fitting. Is this likly to be true? He said it was quite common of MGFs of that age.
Simon

When was the last brake pad change???? some times the hand brake joints jam up, posibley the brake pistons might be at full reach requires rewind and new pads???
GRAHAM

http://www2.mgcars.org.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=mgbbs&access=&mode=archiveth&subject=69&subjectar=69&thread=2000041910381518053
Jon F

Thanks for the replies. Four sets of new brake pads were fitted last week and new rear discs were also fitted. Reading through the link given by Jon it may be that the auto adjusting mechanism has rusted up a bit on one wheel. The car has not been used much recently.
Simon

There could be other causes, but the caliper is a possibility. Our 96 VVC had the same problem once, it turned out to be the caliper (suffered from too much enthusiasm in autotests I suspect, especially as I'd modified the linkage to increase the purchase)
A second hand caliper might do the job, but then on the other hand it could also be on the way to the same problem.
Paul Walbran

Yup, you can free it up, and this will work for a few weeks, and then you will end up back where you are with only one side working.
Best to bite the bullet and replace the caliper I'm afraid, and yes it is quite common.
Will Munns

Simon,

I had the same problem on my 97 VVC - offside rear caliper seized up and was duff, so car was only holding on one wheel - not ideal when you live on a hill! :-O

Fitted a reconditioned one and all fine now. It does seem a common F problem!

Fiona
Fiona

I don't think you can blame the F, this caliper is used on very many cars
Will Munns

So is the price about right then?

:)
Nick D

Well I got a reconditioned Budweg caliper from Brakes International for £56.41 + VAT - so the price of £75 + fitting doesn't sound excessive.

Fiona :-<>
Fiona

Many thanks for all the replies. I told them to go ahead and fit it and the car now has a new MOT. Now I just need to wash it, clean out the inside, fix the alarm, and get the heater fan to work.
Simon

This thread was discussed between 22/05/2006 and 23/05/2006

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