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re:midget rear brakes

To: mchaffee@staff.uiuc.edu, mgs@autox.team.net
Subject: re:midget rear brakes
From: TheSkinny@aol.com
Date: Tue, 2 Jul 1996 13:33:27 -0400
All rear brake parts are the same for both wire wheel and disc wheel Midgets
for any given year, however the wheel cylinders and backing plates changed in
1975 when the rubber bumpered cars got heavier.  The late model wheel
cylinders are slightly larger (hold more fluid) and have a different locating
pin.  I installed a 1979 rear axle assembly on my '69 Midget.  Advantages:
 taller 3.73:1 axle ratio (cruise 3k rpm at 65), better E brake setup, and
bigger wheel cylinders on rear brakes(more fluid=cooler fluid=less brake
fade).

Lots of talk about brakes & hydralics lately, heres my contribution:
Spent alot of money to make my car go fast, stopping seems pretty important
to me.  Do the brakes right the first time.  Contaminates from one  source
will travel to another. 
1.  Flush all metal lines with compressed air.
2.  Replace, do not rebuild master cylinder, brake hoses(3), and wheel
cylinders at same time.
3.  Replace, do not resurface, discs and drums.
4.  Bleed as you go with DOT 4 (enough already said)- 

If you do it all at once, DPO will have no effect on your brake job.  Results
will last 50k+miles.
Other than DPO, water is biggest enemy of brake systems.  Flush with new
fluid every spring.  Also, if car is parked for winter,  start car at least
once a month, and pump the brakes, clutch, turn switches on and off, even
move forward and backward in driveway.  No use wears things out faster than
hard use.

Just my $2 worth (inflation you know)

David Riker
69 Midget

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