MG Sports Cars

engine swaps and other performance upgrades, plus "factory" and Costello V8s

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denvermgb
Brad Carson
Aurora, Colorado
(104 posts)

Registered:
03/10/2008 12:45AM

Main British Car:
1975 MGB 350 SBC bored 0.040 over

authors avatar
Rear brake caliper mounts
Posted by: denvermgb
Date: November 23, 2012 03:37PM

I am converting my Ford 7.5 rear diff to disks. I discovered today that the E-brake mechanism and spring hit the leaf spring. My questions: Is it OK to mount the left caliper on tthe right side (and vice versa) so the mechanism sits higher and over the leaf spring? I can't see why the caliper/brakes would have any negative impact just by mounting it upside down on each side?

Brad
brkae003.jpg



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/23/2012 04:13PM by denvermgb.


mgb260
Jim Nichols
Sequim,WA
(2464 posts)

Registered:
02/29/2008 08:29PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8

Re: Rear brake caliper mounts
Posted by: mgb260
Date: November 23, 2012 05:36PM

Brad, You won' be able to bleed them that way. The bleeder has to be up. Your axle must be a little narrower than most. Try them in front of the axle. Or flip the mounts around. I've seen a picture of Graham Crestwick's Mustang brakes on this site or MGExperience .



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/23/2012 05:40PM by mgb260.


denvermgb
Brad Carson
Aurora, Colorado
(104 posts)

Registered:
03/10/2008 12:45AM

Main British Car:
1975 MGB 350 SBC bored 0.040 over

authors avatar
Re: Rear brake caliper mounts
Posted by: denvermgb
Date: November 23, 2012 06:10PM

Thans Jim. I'll look at his.

Brad
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denvermgb
Brad Carson
Aurora, Colorado
(104 posts)

Registered:
03/10/2008 12:45AM

Main British Car:
1975 MGB 350 SBC bored 0.040 over

authors avatar
Re: Rear brake caliper mounts
Posted by: denvermgb
Date: November 23, 2012 06:15PM

Don't see a pic of Graham's but I'll give it a shot.

Brad


ex-tyke
Graham Creswick
Chatham, Ontario, Canada
(1165 posts)

Registered:
10/25/2007 11:17AM

Main British Car:
1976 MGB Ford 302

authors avatar
Re: Rear brake caliper mounts
Posted by: ex-tyke
Date: November 23, 2012 07:12PM

Brad, I have the 8.8 disc setup - not sure how that compares with the 7.5 but I don't recall having an interference condition with the leaf springs (prior to switching to the current 4-link). I also had 1" lowering blocks on the springs which would have helped.
Crappy photo of current attached.

left caliper.jpg


denvermgb
Brad Carson
Aurora, Colorado
(104 posts)

Registered:
03/10/2008 12:45AM

Main British Car:
1975 MGB 350 SBC bored 0.040 over

authors avatar
Re: Rear brake caliper mounts
Posted by: denvermgb
Date: November 23, 2012 07:22PM

I just bolted the calipers on with the bleeder screws facing up as described. I used a small hose clamp to compress the E-brake spring flat and this helped make the room to get the caliper to bolt up. The E-brake spring makes contact with the leaf spring and I fear there won't be the required floating action of the caliper that is required. Any ideas?

Brad
caliper cont 002.JPG



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/23/2012 07:38PM by denvermgb.


denvermgb
Brad Carson
Aurora, Colorado
(104 posts)

Registered:
03/10/2008 12:45AM

Main British Car:
1975 MGB 350 SBC bored 0.040 over

authors avatar
Re: Rear brake caliper mounts
Posted by: denvermgb
Date: November 23, 2012 07:29PM

Here's a few shots.
caliper cont 002.JPG



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/23/2012 07:34PM by denvermgb.



denvermgb
Brad Carson
Aurora, Colorado
(104 posts)

Registered:
03/10/2008 12:45AM

Main British Car:
1975 MGB 350 SBC bored 0.040 over

authors avatar
Re: Rear brake caliper mounts
Posted by: denvermgb
Date: November 23, 2012 07:36PM

Another
caliper cont 003.JPG


denvermgb
Brad Carson
Aurora, Colorado
(104 posts)

Registered:
03/10/2008 12:45AM

Main British Car:
1975 MGB 350 SBC bored 0.040 over

authors avatar
Re: Rear brake caliper mounts
Posted by: denvermgb
Date: November 23, 2012 08:11PM

What about rotating the bracket about 1/8th a turn and re-drilling the holes?

Brad


mgb260
Jim Nichols
Sequim,WA
(2464 posts)

Registered:
02/29/2008 08:29PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8

Re: Rear brake caliper mounts
Posted by: mgb260
Date: November 23, 2012 08:22PM

Would probably work. What would happen if you traded the brackets side to side? You should put the rotors on also to make sure the caliper is centered. Graham , 7.5 is identical to 8.8 except for ring and pinion and larger housing. Same axles and bearings.


denvermgb
Brad Carson
Aurora, Colorado
(104 posts)

Registered:
03/10/2008 12:45AM

Main British Car:
1975 MGB 350 SBC bored 0.040 over

authors avatar
Re: Rear brake caliper mounts
Posted by: denvermgb
Date: November 23, 2012 08:29PM

My rotors are at the shop to be drilled. The guy took the week off, so I have to wait 'til next week.

I will try moving the brackets again, but it didn't look like an option when I looked at that earlier today.

I appreciate the input.

Brad
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mgb260
Jim Nichols
Sequim,WA
(2464 posts)

Registered:
02/29/2008 08:29PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8

Re: Rear brake caliper mounts
Posted by: mgb260
Date: November 23, 2012 08:57PM

Brad, This link shows the brackets switched side for side,smooth side out. [www.ranger-forums.com]


ex-tyke
Graham Creswick
Chatham, Ontario, Canada
(1165 posts)

Registered:
10/25/2007 11:17AM

Main British Car:
1976 MGB Ford 302

authors avatar
Re: Rear brake caliper mounts
Posted by: ex-tyke
Date: November 23, 2012 09:00PM

I'll offer another option.......try lowering spacers to see if that gives sufficient caliper to spring clearance.
If that turns out OK and body height is not where you want it, then re-arched springs or RB springs should get chassis height back.


denvermgb
Brad Carson
Aurora, Colorado
(104 posts)

Registered:
03/10/2008 12:45AM

Main British Car:
1975 MGB 350 SBC bored 0.040 over

authors avatar
Re: Rear brake caliper mounts
Posted by: denvermgb
Date: November 24, 2012 01:18AM

Jim,

That link is the same set of directions I used.

My car is a '75 so I have rubber bumber springs. I will look at the spacer option, too.

Brad


denvermgb
Brad Carson
Aurora, Colorado
(104 posts)

Registered:
03/10/2008 12:45AM

Main British Car:
1975 MGB 350 SBC bored 0.040 over

authors avatar
Re: Rear brake caliper mounts
Posted by: denvermgb
Date: November 25, 2012 07:07PM

I did not want to mess with the ride height. We ended up rotating each bracket about an 1/8th turn and welding them on. This puts about an inch between the leaf spring and the bottom of the caliper.

I started tearing out the interior today (I can't finish the rear disk brake job until I get the rotors back from the shop and I build a mount for the Mustang E-brake lever on top of the tranny tunnnel). I am also welding in new floors. Next weekend, I will get the rotors on, do the brake line plumbing, take out the old floors/metal....

As always, thanks guys for your input.


Brad



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