MGB Handbrake Install

Our sister race team, Ruby McQueen (fka DRTy eThirties), has had two (count um: two!) hydraulic brake failures during races, the driver having Steve McQueen-like cool-headedness to gently use the handbrake to do anti-smashup maneuvers and save the car.

Knowing that, it only took us two and a half years to finally get around to installing a working handbrake into our race MGB...it was stripped off years ago - we thought for weight savings... turns out it was also probably because it may have interfered with the new rims and fuel cell.

Even though the MGB body did not change dimensions through its years, naturally there are eight different hand brake cables for the MGB - all varying in different sectional lengths as shown on this great Moss Motors application note: Supplemental Information for MGA & MGB Handbrake Cables. That's right: eight. That's what warm beer will do to engineers' brains.

The cable we are installing onto our 1973 MGB GT chassis is from a 1978 MGB convertible. You can see where this is going already I bet.

First, reinstall the handbrake lever back into the rear wheel backing plate and brake shoes. Then, drive around the block and curse because the steel lever is a bit too long and scrapes the inside of the soft aluminum rims; who would have guessed steel is harder than aluminum? Turns out, when not connected to the brake cable the arm relaxes, pivots in, and snacks on the shavings. 

 

How Queenie got her groove back

The answer, as usual, is GRIND BABY GRIND! to remove the tiny bit of offending material.


"Just a little off the top, Gov."

The handbrake lever clevis pins looked to be a bit long and may also interfere, so we added 4 washers to raise the pin (it is the bottom outer edge that was scraping and the bottom of the pin may have also scrapped).


Why the clevis pin is twice as long as need be I'll never know.

 

With the wheel installed, pic from underneath (that's the leaf spring at the top of the pic):

Ahhhh.... elbow room.

The next 'interesting' item was the brake cable itself - the eighth inch rod that spans from wheel to wheel - comes within a quarter inch of the front edge of the fuel cell. In summary: Do Not Want!

Too close for comfort.

So we sliced up some old rubber vacuum tubing and wrapped it around the metal of the cable / rod, and zip tied it in the open section.

 

"Drivers" side:

 

The view from underneath of the complete install - note the waaaay too long handbrake cable loop - guaranteed to bug the hell out of me until I can find the proper replacement. The cable stay actually pulled the rod away from the fuel cell a bit more, but we will be keeping a close eye on it.

The Tip of the Iceberg: an actual MGB GT Handbrake!