MG Car Repair: 1965 MGB Brakes stick, flex hoses, mechanical faults

Question
Howard, thank you for helping me on my other MGB problems. Did everything you said and car runs like a champ. Took it out today and when I apply the brakes, front brakes stick for a while then let loose. All fluids OK. Car has been sitting for about two years. Anyway to lube the masters without buying a new one?

Thanks again for all.

Jim

Answer
Hi Jim,
Brakes can stick either by hydraulics or by mechanical faults so you need to do a simple test.
Jack up the front and have someone pump up the brakes hard and you try to rotate the wheel and have them release the brake by sliding their foot off of the pedal so you can hear the returning pedal hit the stop. This gives you an exact time that the pedal was released.
If the wheel does not free up at the exact time you heard the "clunk" of the pedal being released, then you need to put a wrench on the bleeder valve on the caliper and repeat the same test but this time when you hear the pedal released open the bleeder valve and note if the wheel spins free. If it gets free as soon as you open the bleeder than it is a master cylinder problem or your caliper flex hoses are closed up inside. To isolate the hose as a possible, Do the same test again but this time loosen the hard line where it connects to the flex hose. If the wheel does not free up than it is the hose, If it does free up then it is the master cylinder.
If non of this makes the wheel free up right away when the pedal is released it is probably the brake pads sticking so they need to be removed and cleaned and the caliper cleaned in that area.

Let me know,
Howard