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Re: Frozen brake slave cylinders

To: dmeadow@juno.com
Subject: Re: Frozen brake slave cylinders
From: ewsinc@blazenet.net (Charlie Baldwin)
Date: Mon, 08 Sep 1997 21:53:49 -0400
dmeadow@juno.com wrote:
> 
> Here's a tough one:-
> 
> I've got 12 brake slave cylinders from two MGTD's.  They are ALL rusted
> so that the pistons are frozen in the cylinders.  I have tried EVERYTHING
> to get these things apart, including:  WD-40, Liquid Wrench, PB Blaster
> and molasses (don't ask).  They are still frozen solid.
> 
> My next step is to get out the blue wrench (propane torch).  Since the
> cylinders are aluminum and the pistons are steel, I expect that they will
> expand at different rates when heated.  Hopefully, they will release if
> the aluminum expands more that the steel.
> 
> Are my assumptions correct?  Does aluminum expand more that steel when
> heated?  Am I in danger of splitting or otherwise damaging the cylinders
> by doing this?  Anybody got any better ideas?
> 
> David Littlefield
> Houston, TX

David,

Two other methods that some will suggest are air pressure and hooking up
a grease gun to force it out. From my experience though on TDs with the
dissimilar metals you will not have any luck. What I did to stop
replacing mine every two years was buy new ones and send the cylinders
to White Post to be sleeved with brass and there has been no more
problems for 10 years.

Good luck.

Charlie
'52 TD, '60 MGA, '66 MGB

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