Last winter I replaced the brake discs, pads, springs and dampers on the front suspension of MB35. Much to my disappointment I discovered that the inboard surfaces of the new discs had begun to show abnormal wear. Further investigation revealed that the trunnion bolts were touching the discs when the vehicle was cornering with steering at full-lock.

The Reliant Workshop Manual SE 6 & SE6A, Section B2, shows a 'lock stop' affixed to the trunnion, but trunnions on MB35 did not have the tapped holes to take the 'lock stop' bolt. The Middlebridge Manual also shows the 'lock stop' in the Section B1 diagram but does not list the parts.

So whilst at the Isle of Wight Classic Car Extravaganza and Sywell Piston & Props Car Show, I took the opportunity to conduct a survey of 'lock stops' on the Middlebridges, to find that two cars had 'lock stops' with trunnion Bolts installed from the front of the trunnion, one car had a 'lock stop on one side but not the other. Two cars did not have 'stop locks' but the trunnion bolts were installed from the rear.

The conclusion was that the Middlebridge did not appear to require 'lock stops', provided the trunnion bolts were installed through the trunnion from the rear as there is a little more clearance in front of the trunnion to accommodate the large castellated nut.


The solution for MB35 was to remove both the trunnion bolts, previously install from the front, and install from the rear as shown in the photo above. In hindsight, the damage to the old brake discs, resulting in an MOT advisory, can be attributed to the incorrect orientation of the trunnion bolts.

Alan