4, Brakes

So on with the brakes.  The run for the lines are shown in the manual, and long with the usual web search and reviewing other blogs I went ahead and installed the lines - I bought a small pipe flaring tool and this worked a dream - - I can highly recommend it......although its all dry at the moment so i may change that opinion later in the build I guess !

Bending the pipes was pretty easy to be honest - I never really felt like I was going to kink it but i did buy a small tube bender from screw fix to ensure the tighter parts were all done correctly.

Flaring Tool  - ebay special - about £12-16 I think

This was reasonably straightforward, apart from I kept forgetting to put the end on before flaring the tube - the cursing cutting the flare off and starting again - doh!  I used SAE flares on all joints - some people seem to have used different ones - not sure why as they are all the same - well we will see if it works later!!

So the run is complete  - T'eed at the back and front and then both runs to the RHS of the chassis ready for joints to go to the brake servo later.

I used the small black clips, which as long as it was on the chassis rails, worked great.  This allowed room from them to expand at the back - on the rear of the chassis but the diff it was too thick for them to work so I used rubber P clips instead.

Another eBay bargain!

All clipped in every 200mm or so - must be less than 300mm I think for IVA so playing safe.


So after a while (due to engine install etc) another update on the brakes.

I decided to test the brakes to ensure all the joints etc are solid.  ...I did have two servos but when i tried the other one it didn't fit as the pipe connections where bigger - sods law!  I will have to remove the one form the car.

So need to remove the servo from its home on the bulkhead - no bother its quite simple - if your a contortionist!  So upside down in the footwell I go again - removed the dust to allow removal - the good thing was the clutch master cylinder was still attached so the pedals would remain installed -saves me doing it again!

so....out you come little servo......come on......PULL....no chance - not enough room!.  Out with the clutch MS......BANG - off fall the pedals - nice!......well at least its......ou......fucking thing STILL won't come out....he bloody steering shaft is now blocking it....out with the bottom half of the column also then....jesus!

Any way after all the messing about - i popped the servo onto a home made wooden bracket of the test - I tried just pushing it by hand at first but this was pointless - it far too difficult....so on with the pedal box...well it fell off anyway so may as well use the dam thing...of course it wouldn't fit so I had to put it up side down!

So press the pedal - psssssss.....thats the fluid pissing out of one of the joints....that will be the one that I forgot to tighten up then.....and with a couple of nips on two other joints it was all good.

The pedal was not solid so i went round and bled each calliper - being mindful to only open the nipple on the push stroke as not to draw air back in.....and ALL DONE...solid as a rock.....did roll the car forward and then stop it with the brakes....yes!  NICE!  job done..

By the way thats Dan holding the garage door to stop the light washing out the shot....yes he's Ginger.....Gingers have been very useful to me - the other Ginger, Tim, leant me the trailer so all power to the Gingers!