Buying an MGF

[Rob Bell]

It'll help pedal feel. The original rubber brake hoses may be past their best too: I replaced with braided hoses years ago

To improve braking further, consider different brake pads. Chances are you've got eBay cheapies. Plus they may be glazed.

My preference is towards grooved discs as this reduces pad glazing

[BodgeItAndScarper]

To improve braking further, consider different brake pads. Chances are you've got eBay cheapies. Plus they may be glazed.

That sounds optimistic! Previous owner wouldn't have splurged on those when you can just put some sandpaper in there and call it good

I'll have a look at the bracket, hoses and pads first. I see a set of braided hoses is £60 on Ebay for the cheapies. Anything wrong with them? Or other recommendations?

Today I'm worrying about the clutch travel. Clutch doesn't slip in any gear, but the engagement point is pretty near the floor. Signs of imminent clutch failure, or is it worth trying to bleed the clutch hydraulics and see if that helps?

[Mikeadman]

I have always used Goodridge for braided hoses worth the extra IMHO.

Cheers

Mike

[beefio]

Like I said before...brake fluid change as you probably don't know when it was last done, upgrade to stainless braided hoses and a servo bracket, that should sort you right out!

[beefio]

Funnily enough I'm fitting a set of these hoses tomorrow...

http://www.mattlewisracing.co.uk/produc ... wis_racing

And I'm going to use Dot 5.1 brake fluid.

I've not got a servo bracket yet but it's next on my list...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162329119683

[beefio]

I'll let you know if the hoses are any good once I've fitted them...

[BodgeItAndScarper]

Funnily enough I'm fitting a set of these hoses tomorrow...

http://www.mattlewisracing.co.uk/produc ... wis_racing

And I'm going to use Dot 5.1 brake fluid.

I've not got a servo bracket yet but it's next on my list...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162329119683

Oh, thanks. Looks like the same pic as eBay. Much better price. Let me know how it goes. I'm thinking of trying a few things for the servo bracket first because I don't like the price of existing solutions, and how hard can it be?

The brake fluid isn't ancient if the sticker on the reservoir is to be believed. But when I do the lines I'll change it anyway.

[beefio]

There's also this bracket...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252858821320

Sure you could make one yourself easily enough if you have welding equipment.

[BodgeItAndScarper]

I've never got round to trying to weld anything, but I see nothing there you couldn't bolt together out of these kinds of bits and pieces:

http://www.toolstation.com/search?searc ... 97&lgvis=y

Bit like Meccano, really.

Do you know what size the pipe unions are for the brakes? I've promised myself I'm never doing them again without an open-ended ratchet spanner the right size, but those things are so bloody expensive I'm probably just going to get the one I need. Not sure I want the cheap set: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SATA-Double-R ... 1676100141 - and the good ones are £150ish for a set.

[talkingcars]

The hood isn't brilliant in that area.

A servo bracket is a good investment.

[Bigfootmgf]

At £35.94 for a bracket from Brown & Gammons! https://www.ukmgparts.com/product/mgf-m ... kit-bgf115
or £30.00 from Mike Satur http://www.mikesatur.co.uk/index.php?ro ... uct_id=766

[BodgeItAndScarper]

A servo bracket is a good investment.

I'm sure a servo bracket is a good idea, I just don't see why it's necessary to spend thirty quid on someone else's bodge when the bits to do my own bodging will cost a fiver. But when I went outside before to have a look and measure up, it started bloody hailing, so there could be something I'm missing.

[Mikeadman]

A servo bracket is a good investment.

I'm sure a servo bracket is a good idea, I just don't see why it's necessary to spend thirty quid on someone else's bodge when the bits to do my own bodging will cost a fiver. But when I went outside before to have a look and measure up, it started bloody hailing, so there could be something I'm missing.

Somebody else's bodge!!!

A bit rich I think.

Cheers

Mike

[BodgeItAndScarper]

A servo bracket is a good investment.

I'm sure a servo bracket is a good idea, I just don't see why it's necessary to spend thirty quid on someone else's bodge when the bits to do my own bodging will cost a fiver. But when I went outside before to have a look and measure up, it started bloody hailing, so there could be something I'm missing.

Somebody else's bodge!!!

A bit rich I think.

Cheers

Mike

I didn't mean to offend anyone. It's not like we can go back to the drawing board and fix problems properly, all these brackets are a bodge to overcome a design flaw.

[talkingcars]

By 1996 standards the brakes were reasonable, 20 or more years down the road we have come to expect more.

[BodgeItAndScarper]

By 1996 standards the brakes were reasonable, 20 or more years down the road we have come to expect more.

My F's ten years younger than my daily driver (Toyota Camry, don't ask...) and has worse brakes despite discs all round. In fact, it has worse brakes than the Toyota had when one slave cylinder was squirting brake fluid all over the shoe and drum in one corner every time I pressed the pedal.

[beefio]

Do you know what size the pipe unions are for the brakes?

Brake pipe to hose unions are 11mm...

I brought these and they worked a treat, less chance of rounding the nut. Also gave them a good wire brushing and plenty of plusgas!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/381681565404

I would let you know how my new braided hoses are, however as I buggered my clutch pedal I haven't been able to test them

[RobboMC]

On the subject of brakes - this is a mid-engined car with 4 wheel discs, if you can't pop your eyeballs out under braking then something
somewhere is not perfect.

1) on a wet road see if you can engage the ABS, if not find something to fix.

2) find a nice safe empty dry road and see if you can engage the ABS, even if only for an instant.

The brakes can only stop the car as fast as the tyre grip will allow. Once the wheels are sliding the brakes can do no more.
If your brakes a good enough to engage the ABS then they are good, if you can't get the ABS on then something needs fixing.

But please be very, very careful and only do heavy braking on a straight road.

I made a little mistake the other night, a black car came thru a roundabout and I was unsighted by a big hedge until the last second;
30 mph to zero in about 2 car lengths, full on ABS stop, saved my skin and the car.

Car has new front rotors, new pads and new fluid. ( and no tyre tread if I keep driving like this!)

[BodgeItAndScarper]

Do you know what size the pipe unions are for the brakes?

Brake pipe to hose unions are 11mm...

I brought these and they worked a treat, less chance of rounding the nut. Also gave them a good wire brushing and plenty of plusgas!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/381681565404

I would let you know how my new braided hoses are, however as I buggered my clutch pedal I haven't been able to test them

Was there space to swing the flare spanner? Reason I promised myself a ratchet is that the last two times I used a flare spanner there was only space for about 5 degrees of movement before you had to reposition it. Tedious, especially when you're working on the back of something by touch.

[beefio]

If we're talking about the brake pipe to hose unions then yes plenty it really wasn't an issue just that the nuts were a bit rusty so needed some brushing and plusgas. Also one of the front unions was tight and trying to break it was bending the brake pipe so I needed to hold the hose from underneath with some mole grips.

Overall it was pretty easy...although I haven't tested them yet!