MAIN
Braking System
Previous Page | Next Page
I know if I ask this group, someone can suggest as to whom to contact to get my disc brake calipers rebuilt and a possible prices. Martin Cooper Martin Cooper 32054... MORE
Curt.. I've heard straight cut gear boxi at the track. They're all very loud as compared to the stock road boxi, which are also loud as compared to my Datsun 210 box. The first Datsun 210 I used was an original. It was extremely quiet. The 210 box I am now using is a rebuilt. The sychros are better but, the box has a distinct (but not unpleasant) whine in all gears. Your's may have been rebuilt at one point or another, so parts might not be as well- matched as in the original unit insofar as the first... MORE
(Sorry folks forgot the subject header last time.) A couple questions mostly for the racers in the group, but also any gearbox gurus. 1)Gear box whine: Got my retired racer, soon to be vintage racer Bugeye out for a quick (illegal) run down the road tonight. I have a rib case BMC competition (straight cut, non synchro) close ratio gear box. It whines VERY loudly in 1st through 3rd gears. 4th very was quiet. I wasn't surprised or worried about 1st & 2nd being noisy, but expected 3rd to be quiet. The two tracks I'm going to be running... MORE
A couple questions mostly for the racers in the group, but also any gearbox gurus. 1)Gear box whine: Got my retired racer, soon to be vintage racer Bugeye out for a quick (illegal) run down the road tonight. I have a rib case BMC competition (straight cut, non synchro) close ratio gear box. It whines VERY loudly in 1st through 3rd gears. 4th very was quiet. I wasn't surprised or worried about 1st & 2nd being noisy, but expected 3rd to be quiet. The two tracks I'm going to be running this year are all 3rd & 4th gear... MORE
Paul I saw your note on brake assembly lube. Which do you reccomend and why is it necessary? I had always been taught to use virgin brake fluid when working on M/C's and such. Thanks Mike mk2sprite@... 32030... MORE
I'm serving my term with "sillycon" as we speak(type). I thought the Midget was a good car to experiment with. My father uses it in his streetrods and muscle cars. He likes it, and has been using it for many years. I still don't have an opinion other than... I've yet to have any problems other than I little more trouble for the initial bleeding. "Trevor Jessie" 32031... MORE
Hang on. This is a daily used car. 30,000miles in 3 years since full rebuild ALL new brake parts at that time Regular maintenance - like every 2 weeks I grease the kingpins, top up dashpots etc.etc. Using silicon brake fluid and flush and replace that every year - although its due another change about now. I do a 80 mile daily round trip to work, in fast, heavy traffic conditions. My life depends on this car being in good condition. I started this "thread" to see what other experience might be out there. I don't actually think that... MORE
Hi Guy, Using silicon brake fluid!! Silicon has a higher swell factor on the rubber parts than does conventional brake fluid. This simply exacerbates an already stiff acting caliper. Paul A "Paul Asgeirsson" 32024... MORE
"Surely they should last....." Depends upon use over time. As we know, when they sit (especially "unprotected"), certain items not only continue to wear, they wear at an accelerated rate due to lack of lubrication along with "water within" (condensation, etc.). My car sat outside (but under a cover) a good part of last winter which in these parts, was uncharacteristically very cold. But the vehicle was started, thoroughly warmed and "moved" (shocks, brakes, etc.) at least once a week. Also, the exhaust outlet was kept covered while the car "sat". First thing we did before taking it out... MORE
Thanks Paul, I will check out the calipers. The whole braking system from M/C through to bleed nipples and all the bits between were replaced 30,000 miles ago (3 years). But I will check anyway. Guy "Guy Weller" 31983... MORE
Thanks Paul, I will check out the calipers. The whole braking system from M/C through to bleed nipples and all the bits between were replaced 30,000 miles ago (3 years). But I will check anyway. Guy "Guy Weller" 31981... MORE
Hi Guy, I suspect that you have some calipers that are ready for a rebuild. These pistons don't retract as the new cars do, but merely relax. If the dust seals are stiff and totally dried out it will inhibit the relaxing of the pads from the rotors. I rebuild a lot of these calipers and sometimes it's almost impossible to get out the pistons because there's 40 years of crud and dried up rubber involved. Another possibility on the calipers is the m/cyl is holding too much pressure on the system with it's internal residual valve. A suggestion... MORE
I usually push my Sprite out of the garage each morning before I set off. The garage has an interconnecting door to the kitchen so I try to minimise the exhaust fumes in there. The point is this. It is quite heavy to push. The brakes are not binding and the tyre pressures are at 24 / 22. It should weigh in at about 1520 Pounds (Sprite,1971) By comparison, my daughter's Peugeot 106 has a kerb weight of 1675 Pounds and rolls very easily, you hardly have to lean on it. So what views are there on minimising rolling... MORE
Some of you may remember a mail i wrote a few days agoo were i told you my float bowls went almost empty. Well i think i have found the cause of this problem as well. I changed the petrol line from the tank yesterday and when removing the old one that had a joint before the pump (mechanical) with a short piece of rubber tubing the hose clip on one end was loose and the actual rubber tubing was loose as well. I could just pull it off by hand easily. I recon the pump must have sucked... MORE
Neil, Welcome back..does that mean you are just a "fair weather friend"? On your tail lights, you did not say if they worked before. If they did, keep it simple, pull the bulbs and check the filaments and sand paper the contacts in the socket and on the bulb. Check for 12 volts at the sockets when the brakes are on. If none, work backwards till you find it. Cheers, Bob in San Diego "Robert D. Gardner" 31931... MORE
Neil Look under the hood at the brake/clutch pedal box. Your brake light switch should be mounted to the outside of the box in front of the brake pedal...Im pretty sure. Mike mk2sprite@... 31912... MORE
Hello again to the group I left for the winter. Now that spring weather is back in Iowa, I am rejoining the collective wisdom of the group. My brake lights do not work. Taillights do come on when the headlight switch is turned on. Looking up the wiring diagram, I assume the first thing that could be giving me trouble is the brake switch. Where is it located? No switch located on the brake pedal as on my other vehicles. Thanks Neil "Neil Hernan" 31909... MORE
Hi Everyone i have to replace the back brake lines from the back union to the wheel cylinder But I have a problem a couple of fittings are rounded a bit so i cant use a wrench (spanner) on them and i dont want to use vice grips unless i can get new fittings and lines with out buying a complete set from moss. Can any one tell me if the fitting have special threads or can i get them from a reg auto parts store. I have a flare tool (bubble)so i can size the line to fit.... MORE
Hi Rick The bumpers are just black rubber/faom which is not painted at all. They often go matt but polish up to a bright shine (like they should be) with black shoe polish. Use the hard wax that comes in a tin, apply with a shoe polishing brush and polish off with a duster. You should be able to see your face in them, in true British army style!! james "James" 31772... MORE
Hi all, just ordered the rubber hose kit and 13 row cooler! Problem is Moss are waiting for a delevery of them to arrive! No problem i bought a SU carb tuning book aswell!! :) Cheers all Ben Ben Lawlor 31589... MORE
I guess what I will do, until I can find a goo dused one, is to just bypass the valve. I will plug the hose going from the valve to the heater, and use s fitting to connect to hose from the engine to the carburator thermostat(?). That way the system shoudl work just as if the heater valve was closed. I think... "Michael" 31581... MORE
How I came to a Midget...? A few years ago, my brother gave me a 1975 FIAT X1/9. He was having some problems with it. I got those fixed. It was a fun little car. Like a go cart, but street legal. Well, one day I was driving around town and happened to look in the rear view mirror. All I saw was flames and smoke. Now, mind you, the only thing between me and the fire, was the gas tank. YIKES!! I thought to myself, "So this is how it's going to end. Riding a flaming FIAT into... MORE
Initially I thought it was the gasket, so I changed those. Then, when it still was leaking, I removed it from the fender well and the fluid was leaking out from the where the crank goes into the body. I only drive the beast in the summer. I have never had the heater on (I think the core leaks), so could I just come up with a couple plugs and seal off the hoses, thereby ignoring the valve altogether? "Michael" 31531... MORE
Current theory states that it is much better to leave on and if you must, just run a loop of heater hose from the in to the out. It really helps to get cooling to the back of the motor. Bob in San Diego "Robert D. Gardner" 31554... MORE
Listers - I posted a message a few weeks back about attempting to get a proper title for my 75 Midget, without much luck... Yahooooiiiieeeee ! The title arrived in the mail a couple of days ago! After 4 calls to the local and state DMV offices, I finally talked to someone who new what was going on and gave me the direct line of the lady who handles such things, sent me the proper papers and local police officer inspected the VIN numbers signed the papers and bingo.... Guess it pays to talk to the proper people. Been... MORE
