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MG MGA - green stuff pads

I have just replaced the green stuff pads after hearing that metal to metal noise on sunday morning, the thing is i only fitted them last year and i have only coverd about 4000 miles since,i would have thought they should have lasted longer im not what you would call heavy footed, I would be interested to hear of any other experiances with them, Vin
Vin Rafter

Im really surprised Vin as my car has had the same pair of green-stuff pads fitted since I got the car over 4 years ago.
I have done many more miles than you, I work the brakes hard and they still have a least a 3rd of the friction material remaining.

I wonder if there are different grades of green stuff pads?

Colyn
Colyn Firth

Hi Guys,
Sounds to me, Vin, like you have dragging calliper pistons or a sticking master cylinder, either not letting the pads fully release. They do not have to stick hard on to wear the pad away very quickly and Greenstuff pads would not smell like other makes when hot. If the wear was pretty much equal across all the pads, it implies a sticking master cylinder.
regards
Colin
C Manley

Check your brake hoses. They might have collapsed and held the calipers in.
Mike Parker

Vin,
Jack the front wheels up off the ground, apply the brakes hard and realease, then try and turn the wheels by hand - it will tell you whether your brakes are jamming for some reason.
Regards
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

thank you all for your advise but the wheels run freely and i replaced the hoses and renewed the M/C seals at the same time as i fitted the shoes, strange, i will ahve to see what the new ones do, Vin.
Vin Rafter

I've seen these "green-stuff" pads referred to. Currently for sale on our Australian eBay for around $90 a set. What benefits do they have over other materials? Are they worth swapping over to?
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MG-MGA-59-62-EBC-Green-Brake-Pads-Front-/120714335119?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c1b22938f#ht_4012wt_1055
T Aczel

Tom

I am no expert but I swapped to them in despair and as a last resort to stop my squealing brakes. Cured in an instant. They stop me okay, but there again so did all the others.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Tom, the green stuff pads seem to have all the advantages of modern brake pads with instant low speed bite but also they dont seem to fade especially if you work them really hard from high speed.

I once fitted semi competition pads (Mintex 171 material)to my previous MGA thinking they would improve the braking performance.
Well they worked brilliantly once they got really hot but the braking was almost non existant when they were cool and the car was a nightmare to drive in traffic.
You needed to use an enormous amount of brake pedal pressure and also, whilst the pads never wore out, I had to replace the discs (rotors) as they had become really badly scored.

The only thing I have noticed about the green stuff pads is they produce a fair amount of brake dust on the wheels and it is noticeable after every run.
(though that may be mostly due to my driving style than to anything else)

Colyn
Colyn Firth

Thanks Steve and Colyn.
Since I don't have a squeal problem, and don't drive my MGA all that hard, (and I don't wish for yet more frequent cleaning), there seems little need for me to swap over. I might try them out though out of interest when I next need to change my brake pads.
T Aczel

This thread was discussed between 28/06/2011 and 29/06/2011

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