How To..... ~ Running Gear

...maintain your brakes

Front standard brake pad replacement
- Rob Bell's site has these instructions.
Front disc (240mm dia) replacement
- Rob Bell to the rescue again here.
Rear OE brake pad replacement
- Again, Rob as this covered here.
Rear disc replacement
- Tony Thompson's site has this covered here.
- craynerd on the MG-Rover.org forum posted this thread as a how to replace the rear discs and pads, indicating the differences between the rear and front 240mm disc set up.
- CJJ, also on the MG-Rover.org forum posted this thread on how to change the rear discs on a TF. This can also be found on here on the T-Bar.
- Iain "The Broon" Brown produced this picture rich How To on the MG-Rover.org forum.
  - Tip !! - When you are winding the piston back in, ensure that one of the cut outs in the piston is at 3 o'clock, this cut out engages in a small pin on the back of the pad. If the piston is not aligned, you will get a 10-15mm rust ring at the outer edge of the inner surface of the disc due to uneven pressure on the brake pad.
Rear caliper replacement
- Fast Jan posted this great thread on the MG-Rover.org forum, and also here on the SWMGF forum (you need to be a SWMGF member to view the thread).
Rear caliper strip and rebuild
- Station on the MG-Rover.org forum has put this great how to together detailing how to strip down and rebuild a rear caliper, complete with detailed photos.
Rear 280mm disc conversion
- Clive fitted the 280mm rear disc conversion kit
Brake hoses
- CJJ shows how to fit stainless steel braided hoses in this thread on the MG-Rover.org forum. As ever, loads of step by step photos. This could also be used for replacing the standard rubber brake hoses. Also found here on the T-Bar.
Brake master cylinder
- MGFNorway shows how to replace the brake master cylinder on the MG-Rover.org forum.
Brake Servo
- Clive shows how he removed the flex in the servo when braking on the T-Bar.
Hand brake maintenance
- CJJ posted this thread on the MG-Rover.org forum, describing how he fixed his sticking hand brake mechanism.
- Got a sticking handbrake ?, David, Aiketgate on the MG-Rover.org forum posted this great thread on how he freed up the handbrake mechanism on the caliper, complete with photo's.
- How to change a handbrake cable, CJJ does it again on the MG-Rover.org forum and here on the T-Bar.
- Roger Parker shows how to adjust the handbrake over on the MGOC website.
- The above should be red with this post from Chris T on the MG-Rover.org forum. If your still having problems then this thread, again on the MG-Rover.org forum, may be useful.
- This thread from David Aiketgate on The-T-Bar indicates how to properly adjust the handbrake cables after fitting a caliper.
Big brake upgrade
- A popular upgrade for those who do not have rims big enough to accommodate AP calipers. Roger Parker discusses the merits and fitting of such a kit on the MGOC website.

...4 pot AP calipers

Fitting
- an excellent thread on MG-Rover.org by Dr Dave on fitting the 4 pot AP calipers that were part of the SP1 option on the TF.
Pad replacement
- The AP calipers are very easy to work on. Once you have the road wheel removed, knock out the two pad retaining pins with a suitable drift. Remove the pad retaining spring (note its orientation) and pull out the two pads, push back the pistons into the caliper body using a stout screwdriver or flat bar (check the brake master cylinderreservoir to make sure that the hydraulic fluid being pushed back into the brake circuit is not over flowing!). Clean up the caliper before replacing the new pads. Check the new pads slide easily into the calipers, file the edges if they bind. Apply copper grease to the backs and top and bottom edges of the new pads, DO NOT GET ANY GREASE ON THE BRAKE MATERIAL!!. Slide the new pads into the caliper lining up the slotted holes with the pin retaining holes in the caliper body, replace the pad retaining spring (note that its the right orientation), and finally replace the retaining pins, you will have to use a hammer and drift to seat these into the caliper body. Told you it was easy.
- Andy Phillips also gives a step by step method here on MG-Rover.org
- A fantastic ' How To Change AP Discs and Pads' thread on the MG-Rover.org forum by CJJ, and also here on the T-Bar.
Strip and rebuild
- this terrific thread from TouchStone on the MG-Rover.org forum.
Painting
- CJJ shows how he painted his AP calipers in-situ.

... upgrade an F to a TF steering rack

The good Dr Bell has this brilliant article giving all the information for this popular upgrade.
Another guide on the MG-Rover.org forum from MGFNorway (aka Morten), this covers a LHD F conversion, but is still relevant for RHD F's.

...fit lowering springs on a TF

Baracus posted this 'how to' article on fitting lowering springs to a TF on the MG-Rover.org forum.

...replace your track rod ends

Iain 'Broon' Broon has this page on his web site covering track rod end replacement on an F.
CJJ does his thing for track rod end replacement (TRE)

...ball joints

Roger Parker shows how to replace the ball joint on an F on the MGOC website.
Station, on the MG-Rover.org forum, shows how to replace the front lower ball joints. This is applicable to either the F or TF.
How to replace the front upper ball joints on a TF. Once again CJJ does his stuff on MG-Rover.org. You can also find this on the T-Bar.

... shock absorbers

F rear shock absorber bushes
- Iain 'Broon' Broon again, this time on the MG-Rover.org forum.
Replacing F hydragas units & fitting lowering pins
- Villager on the MG-Rover.org forum put together this great thread for all you F owners.
TF damper replacement
- how to replace TF dampers with the Mike Satur TF Spring and Shocker kit (blue).
- another Spax replacement how to, this from CJJ with the usual high standard. Also found here on the T-Bar.
- Adam-MGTF shows how to replace TF dampers with Spax adjustable shockers and Mike Satur red springs.
F lower bushes
- David Aiketgate on The-T-Bar shows how to cure the wear.

... Suspension links / arms

F Front lower arm replacement
- Roger Parker published this great out to on the MGOC web site. This should could also be used for the TF, just remember the suspension differences.
TF rear trailing link replacement
- These are the two long links that go from the centre to the rear of the hub. CJJ shows how to replace them over on the T-Bar
TF lower rear link arm replacement
- These sit in front of the rear hub. CJJ shows how to replace over on the T-Bar

... Throttle cable

CJJ again, showing how to replace the throttle cable on the MG-Rover.org forum, photos galore as usual. Also found here on the T-Bar.

. ..Hubs

Front hubs
- Captain Klang on the MG-Rover.org shows how to replace the front hub.
Rear Hubs
- CJJ does the business in showing how to replace the rear hub.

. ..Hub adapters

Mike Satur's
- Fast Jan shows how she fitted Mike's hub adapters via this How To on the MG-Rover.org forum.

. ..Gear box and Clutch

Oil filling
- Once again CJJ does us proud with this how to on the MG-Rover.org forum.
Clutch replacement
- Bigmac on the MG-Rover.org forum did a clutch and flywheel replacement with the engine in situ !!, his how to is here

. ..Bushes

Torque tamer Polybushes
- CJJ again, with this how to on fitting the torque tamer bushes, again on the MG-Rover.org forum, and here on the T-bar.
TF front Polybush
- MaxDesign on the MG-Rover.org forum produced this how to on fitting front polybushes to a TF
F rear Polybush kit
- Benfinlayson produced this how to on fitting the rear polybush set on an F, over on the MG-Rover.org forum.
F rear compliance bushes
- Adam Elphick, over on The-T-Bar, shows how he made and fitted new compliance washers.

. ..Sub frames

Rear sub frame
- CJJ once again, rear sub frame removal, on the MG-Rover.org forum and on the T-Bar forum. Note that this how to covers engine removal, but this does necessitate removal of the sub frame.
Front sub frame
- Adam on the MG-Rover.org forum produced this great how to on removing the front sub frame.