stevebrookman
Well-Known Member
Morning all, jumped in the car this morning, drove a few miles and low brake fluid warning came on. Came home, topped it up and looked underneath-dripping near the air tank. How fun are these to change?
Datatek
Well-Known Member
Not too bad if you have a lift, a PITA on your back. Luckily I have a pit so it was not too bad although the pipe clips were rusted away.
Having a split braking system with a common reservoir seems daft to me as once the fluid is gone, even the good circuit no longer functions.
Flossie
Well-Known Member
There's a joint behind the front plastic wheel arch liner. You could go from there to a convenient place past the leak and splice a bit in.
I can't remember where that pipe terminates at the rear tbh so it may be just as easy to replace that whole length. All the ass end pipework is a lot more fiddly to do.
I can't remember where that pipe terminates at the rear tbh so it may be just as easy to replace that whole length. All the ass end pipework is a lot more fiddly to do.
brianp38dse
Well-Known Member
Not to bad there are a couple of joins in the the drivers wheel arch replace the pipes from there all the way back and the flexies as the connectors will not be in great shape i did mine in a day on the drive, depending on year the number and possition of the flexies changed.
Datatek
Well-Known Member
It's the pipe with the 90 degree bend to go across the chassis that seems to be the one that goes, the bend is ideally positioned to get all the crap from the road and of course that is the hardest one to replace.
stevebrookman
Well-Known Member
Even my 44 year old Vauxhall Royale has a split reservoir! I'll wait until the weather warms I think!!!
stevebrookman
Well-Known Member
Weather got a bit warmer so thought I'd have a start on this today.
Had to grind the mud guard fixings off to remove the inner wheel liner.
Good thing though-I remember years ago when i took it for an MOT to a friends garage-they replaced a brake pipe or 2 on the rear end and put these connectors on-so pipes a bit shorter than I though.
Straightforward getting them out apart from the inaccessible clips behind the air tank and one fitting being a pain. Will make a couple of new pipes tomorrow and then comes the fun of seeing if the brake nipples undo!!
Had to grind the mud guard fixings off to remove the inner wheel liner.
Good thing though-I remember years ago when i took it for an MOT to a friends garage-they replaced a brake pipe or 2 on the rear end and put these connectors on-so pipes a bit shorter than I though.
Straightforward getting them out apart from the inaccessible clips behind the air tank and one fitting being a pain. Will make a couple of new pipes tomorrow and then comes the fun of seeing if the brake nipples undo!!
doriz
Well-Known Member
Quite an organised set-upWeather got a bit warmer so thought I'd have a start on this today.
Had to grind the mud guard fixings off to remove the inner wheel liner.
Good thing though-I remember years ago when i took it for an MOT to a friends garage-they replaced a brake pipe or 2 on the rear end and put these connectors on-so pipes a bit shorter than I though.
Straightforward getting them out apart from the inaccessible clips behind the air tank and one fitting being a pain. Will make a couple of new pipes tomorrow and then comes the fun of seeing if the brake nipples undo!!
stevebrookman
Well-Known Member
Indeed! I'll tidy the bench before making the new pipes! All I seem to do is move tools from one place to another!!!Quite an organised set-up
doriz
Well-Known Member
When I tidy my tools away I always need the tool that has been put away in the bottom box or top shelf. I really envy those folk with the big tool chests that house everything.
stevebrookman
Well-Known Member
Bit of progress-new pipes on last week-bleed nipples freed off (I was expecting a snapped one!!) - need to get around to bleeding it today or tomorrow.
Progress, niiiiiiice
stevebrookman
Well-Known Member
All done apart from putting the wheel liner back in. Managed to get away with bleeding the back calipers only-luckily the fluid hadn't dropped too far emptying the chambers in the pump.
Brakes seem much better-either new fluid makes a difference or its the placebo effect.
Brakes seem much better-either new fluid makes a difference or its the placebo effect.
Datatek
Well-Known Member
Fluid should be changed every couple of years as it is hygroscopic and as others have found it can cause corrosion in the modulator.
The fluid really seems to get hammered in these cars. Definitely do at least every other year.
