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MG TD TF 1500 - TD brake drums?

I'm looking into replacing the front and rear brake drums on my 1952 MG TD or having my existing ones relined. Any one know of a source for new or replacement drums. Also has anyone had their existing front and rear drums relined? Thanks in advance John
John Hambleton

John, there's been a lot of discussion about that in the past little bit. You might want to do a bit of an archive scan and see what you think. It's not very promising. Bud
Bud Krueger

John - Contact me at SUfuelpumps@donobi.net regarding the brake drums. Cheers - Dave
DW DuBois

John - the basic info is that the drums were originally 9" in diameter, and .060" is the most I am confortable going. I know of no source for lining. You can get a little purchase by shimming the adjusters.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

John, I bought a pair of WW TF rears from Classic Sports Car Centre located in Queensland Oz. classicsportscarcentre@gmail.com

They advertise TD & Y type drums also, all at A$192.50, with our low exchange rate about US$3.75, just kidding but a lot cheaper for you plus of course the postage.

britishclassicspareparts.com.au/british-parts/brakes/brake-drum-mg-td-tf-mg-yb-front-or-rear-wire-wheel

Good luck, Don (in 40c plus degrees!)
Donald J Walker

John - do you need drums for solid wheels?

Here in D someone sells via ebay.

https://www.ebay.de/itm/MG-TD-TF-kompletter-Scheibenradsatz-nach-Umbau-auf-Speichenfelgen/392199419254?_trkparms=aid%3D777003%26algo%3DDISCL.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20160608105753%26meid%3D8cd9abb08be54693a4c5c03b7166b5b4%26pid%3D100012%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D3%26sd%3D392164685170%26itm%3D392199419254&_trksid=p2047675.c100012.m1985

W_Mueller

As far as I know only the Octagon Car Club sells new front solid wheels and nobody sells new rears.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

Definitely worth asking MG Octagon car club. Earlier in the year I was in contact with a potential supplier and put them in contact with the club, who said they would pursue it. I haven't heard anything since. The more people that ask for them, the more likely they are to do something.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Hi John
I have a very good assortment of very nice used drums for sale.
garykrukoski at yahoo dot com
gl krukoski

Jgrelining.com can line the drums.
P G Gilvarry

Hi John,
I talked with this guy, Don Booker, who had a display at one of Road America's vintage races. He had examples of the before and after of his work. He doesn't list MG's on his website, but he said he could do them! You may want to contact Don and see what he says. I have no affiliation and have not used his services.
https://www.jgrelining.com/services

Mike in WI
M Marini

Thanks every one for your replies. I’m a little leery of purchasing used front and rear brake drums as I think I would be in the same situation I’m in now. My drums are 66 years old. I am aware of the adjuster fix with the penny but think that it is just a stop gap fix. The reason I’m doing this is back in October of 2018 I tuned up the TD and took it for a test drive up the George Washington pkwy. On exiting the Pkwy on a downhill right turn I braked but my speed was still too much so I down shifted into 3rd gear. When I released the clutch, I heard this loud metallic sound coming from the engine. I turned it off and had it tailored home. This downshift had broken the crankshaft into. I have adjusted the brakes both front and rear, their adjusted to the limit. The brake shoes look to have 75% life left in them, so it is not the shoes but the worn drums. I have found a shop that will reline the drums but at about $400 per wheel/drum, which this seems a little much. Has anyone done this in the past and what was the results? Does anyone know the ID of the drums when they left the factory? With the engine rebuild and the brake issues I now have more money in the TD than it is currently worth. I like the car very much, I have a personal relationship with every nut and bolt in the car. So I am going to fix it properly. Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for your replies. John
John Hambleton

The TF wire wheel drums are a nominal 9.00", believe TD are the same.

Bought 4 from Moss, all were 9.00, but the linings from Moss were skinny.

I am going to have JG REling line a set of shoes and radius to 9.00".

As said, the can reline your drums back to new size, get shoes done to match, you will be like the day it was new.

Peter
P G Gilvarry

John,

Welcome to the club of "more money invested in my TD than it's worth". I think that every person who contributes to this forum is also a member as I definitely am one.

Jim
James Neel

As long as you spend money in looking forward to have the the same fun as in the past every cent is it worth.
W_Mueller

Hi. I agree with mueller. it's better to use your money on the MG instead of givingthem to the bank with NO interest earned, and at the same time have some fun.
Thoralf. NORWAY TD 4490
Thoralf Sorensen (TD4490)

I know it is not an ideal solution, but what about having your shoes relined with thicker pads? There are a number of facilities that can reline the shoes.
Bruce Cunha

About ten years ago there was a man in the Tampa area that did a set of thicker linings for me. It was a side line for him as he repaired elevators and they use shoes of some design.They were rivited in place.
They did a fantstic job but fitting was tedious as I had to do it by hand. He apparently did not have TRU-ARCING machinery.
Most of the old brake shops had that equipement but sold them due to health issues with Asbestos.
Sandy
Sanders

Check out large truck repair shops. They still rebuild brakes and arc them.

We have one in Sacramento called Capital Clutch and brakes.

I took in a clutch and brakes from a 1951 Mack Fire Truck. They relined and arc'd them in just a few days.
Bruce Cunha

This thread was discussed between 26/12/2018 and 29/12/2018

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