MG MGB and MGB GT Tech Talk
I need to get a new or rebuilt brake master cylinder for a 1972 MGB. I guess I am having price shock. Who has the best price? I tried auto zone etc.. and the one for around $40 from A1 Cardone is no longer available. Next price is $200
thanks, Tom
AutoZone had one listed on their site the other day, it was $49 or so but now I see they are no longer listed... I wish I woulda got one of them. Sorry.
Post Edited (03-04-05 12:40)
I have a feeling they had a wrong part number listed there, and removed it. Considering a rebuild kit retails for around $13, and a core charge is around $25, selling a rebuilt unit for $40 is just about impossible. Woulda been nice, though!
When I replaced mine a couple of years ago on my '78, Proper MG had 'em on sale for something like $189 - and that's the cheapest I've seen....
<http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?mfrcode=A1C&mfrpartnumber=111672&parttype=230&ptset=A>
Wray, that one is no longer available. Discontinued. I tried:)
Tom,
Why not send yours to Apple Hydraulics and have them resleeve it for $90? Then you can put a rebuild kit in it and you're set.
Ryan
So I must have bought one of the last $40 rebuilt MGB masters out there last fall. It's installed, but haven't bled it yet...I hope it works!
Rod
I washoping that since it was still listed it may be available. Ryan has the next best suggestion to having to buy a new one, send it to Apple or Worldwide and have it rebuilt. Worldwide guarantees theirs to not leak.
why don't you rebuild it yourself? If you have not had the car sitting for any length of time it will usually be rebuildable. The kits are cheap. It's usually just a little rubber piece that's worn out. But, if the car has been sitting for a long time, they tend to corrode beyond repair. I just bought a rebuilt kit for mine for less than $15, I don't remember the exact price.
Also try <http://atlantaimported.com/products-search.asp>
they have all of them, and they're a moss distributor. Who knows you may have a good rebuildable unit, and since all the MCs are now coming with plastic parts, you may want to stick with the original.
Good luck
my rpoblem with rebuilding, I have a kit. I cant get the thing apart. I may take it to a brake shop and have them rebuild it. Think that is possible?
Thanks, Tom
I understand Lindsay Porter's book shows how to, but I haven't looked it up. To get the first part out, pushin and relieve the tension, then pull the pin that is hiding under one of the two rubber plugs that are under the resevoir. When the pin comes out, the spring will release and then you can shake it to get MOST of the rest of the parts out. However, there is a circlip in the far end that takes a special tool/custom tool to get to. Also, it is a good idea to hone the cylinder before rebuilding, assuming it is not pitted.
My solution: already had the kit, took it apart, will get it plated, then will let the local LBC mechanic that has the tool rebuild/guarantee it. I was quoted an hour labor plus parts (and he doesn't mind me already having mine).
John
sure you can take it to a place. I would take it somewhere that is reputable. Not a Pep Boys, or Midas, Although some of them do good work they are used to just installing things that are already rebuilt. You what to find a machine shop or equivalent that is used to doing that type of work.
I just got my Vicky Brit catalog, I didn't realize that these were so expensive. I have a 67 MKI MGB and I have a totally different system then yours. I thought the price that you were quoting was high, because mine is a lot cheaper. They are expensive.
Brian, I have some NOS early ones for sale that are genuine metal cans if you need one.
Tom, If your located near a parts house that deals with Cardone, they will rebuild yours on what they call R and R. (rebuild and return). also other companys do the same. I had mine done by Cardone as they no longer listed it, in early December and the pedal has never felt better. I had gotten a new Lockheed from Moss that never felt right and after about a year it started leaking internally. I was told by a Brit restoration shop that they were also having problems with new Lockheed master cylinders. It appears that they must be using cheaper seals and parts. If you send it to Cardone you must use their part number #11-1672 or they can't seem to identify it. The cost was $50.38 in Dec 04. Good luck with it.
John
