Why I like my MGs, by Philippe Tusler
Yesterday the I***u brakes started making grumbling noises, and pulled
hard left. They've been noisy ever since we got the car.
Put the front end up
1) Heavy! Hard to find a jacking point to to front transfer case.
and took the tires off
2) Heavy! All six acorn nuts bind all the way off.
undid the caliper retaining bolts and swung the calipers out of the way.
The right side looked fine, with maybe a few more thousand to go.
The left side looked worn to a minimum, with a slight score line in
the center. The inside pad was gone, braking on metal, with deep scores!
3) Uneven right-left wear on the pads.
I called the dealer for prices on the rotors and the flex lines. I thought
the left pad may be dragging due to a swollen line.
4) $79.73 for a rotor, $50.95 for a brake line!
I looked up in the Haynes manual how to remove the rotor. "Dismantle front
hub..." Took off the (4WD) hub cover, managed to get the snap ring off the
axle, removed the outer and inner clutch assemblies. Found the bearing
retaining plate secured by three philip's head screws. Tight screws.
Screws that would not budge. Screws that started to strip.
Did I mention that I injured my back yanking on the emergency brake?
Did I also mention that it was 91 degrees outside? Can you guess how
hot it was in the garage, even with the door open?
I'd had enough. I decided that I should leave this to a professional.
6) It took me an hour to get that F***ing spring clip back on.
I took it to a highly recommended tire-and-brake shop by work.
The rotor was salvageable.
7) $165 to replace the pads and turn the rotors. $99 if I want the rear
brakes done.
Has anyone noticed that it would have been cheaper for me to replace the
rotor completely myself? (pads were $44 from the dealer)
Meanwhile, Tintin and Milou are chortling in the garage...
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*Philippe Tusler - Mission Viejo, CA | "MILOU" '57 MGA Roadster *
*A-Mail: <TUSLER@MP050> | "TINTIN" '66 MG/MGB-GT *
*InterNet: TUSLER@MP050.MV.unisys.com | "N/A" '88 ISUZU Trooper*
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