My front & rear brakes. Phew!

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PopRivet

Well-Known Member
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317
Location
Acrtic
Hi all. Today, I set about renewing the rear & fron brake parts on mt FL1 TD4 2006. I got the parts delivered over the past 2 days, so set myself to fit the replacement parts... today.
It has been siad, by other LandyZone members, if it aint broke don't fix it. I'm all for keeping things running by anticipating potential failure by replacing certain bits of equipment before they even begin to show signs of failure. That is my aircraft engineering training, I guess. A ship, car, boat, or whatever, can pull-over into a layby, parking spot, etc. An aircraft cannot. If there is an important failure it means TROUBLE! Hence, my decision to service/replace anything that seems suspect.
So, I received replacement parts for my brakes. Front & back. I set myself to doing the back first. The shoes I was sent were wrong. Thery cost me an absolute packet, but were so wrong they couldn't be matched at all. See the pictures. I did strip the rear brakes though, cleaning, and replacing the springs I received. I did, however, discover that certain springs had been fitted wrongly. What effect that meant has yet to be ascertained. I'll let you know.
I then turned my attention to replacing the seals on the front brake calipers. What a ****ty job that was! To cut a long story short, I eventually worked out a method to fit the repalcement seals around the piston by using a tywrap. It's a long story. But, unless you're already conversent of how to do it... dont!
The brake shoe firm that sent the wrong shoes is, www.recambrios.es they also have a UK outlet too. I would avoid them. A single set of rear brake piston seals cost me 4 Euros to buy, but once they added on all their costs, etc, the final amount was over 18 Euros. That didn't show up on the sales page when I ordered them, by the way. That only showed the 4 Euros + postage, end-quote. They have just lost a customer.
Anyway, I'm bleeding my brakes tomorrow, aided by my helpful & understanding wife, where I hope everything will be tickety-boo.
I'm working towards the 3 projects concernig my HP fuel pump, Coolant Pump + thermostant, and both drive belts. There might also be a Modification of the plastic/resin undertray too. Phew, the list goes on and on.
Other than that, my car (FL1 TD4 HSE 2006 - low miles) still looks like new. If tioy see the rear brake on one side, which equates to both, you might understand just how well this car of mine is.
By the way, I bought it through a company in Spain that sources vehicles to one's demand. It was serviced (?), had a towing-arm fitted, new tyres, new key, and a whole lot more. I paid 10,350Euros for this car, and could have bought a new something for less. But the something would have been a tin-plate piece of junk, perhaps. I'm happy with what I paid, especially as it originated in Germany and still looks as if new. The servicing I'm doing it of my own choosing, and will still do it to maintain it as a servicable vehicle, above the rest. DSCF0267.JPG
I didn't take any pictures of the front disk calipers as I was concentrating on getting the job done. I did use a hell of a lot of DOT4 though.
 
Please forgive the spelling mistakes in my previous thread. It all seemed so perfect, until it was posted, thenit all went to h**l. I do apologise. please do try to under stand the story though. Tahks.
 
If you have one of the better diag kits - bleeding can be quite an easy 1 person job because you can get the ABS system to pump the fluid. Never tried it - just what I've been told. I used one of those 1 man easy bleed kits (with a non-return setup on the nipple) and it worked a treat. I had put a new modulator on which caused some issues and needed a lot of fluid pumped through the system before the brakes were good.

I've got a mate who's an aircraft engineer, been in the business for years from RAF through Dan Air, BA etc etc. He came round in the week to use my inspection pit to give his Toyota a service. He spent over an hour under the car just trying to get the oil filter off. He gave up in the end and just changed the oil!
 
If you have one of the better diag kits - bleeding can be quite an easy 1 person job because you can get the ABS system to pump the fluid. Never tried it - just what I've been told. I used one of those 1 man easy bleed kits (with a non-return setup on the nipple) and it worked a treat. I had put a new modulator on which caused some issues and needed a lot of fluid pumped through the system before the brakes were good.

I've got a mate who's an aircraft engineer, been in the business for years from RAF through Dan Air, BA etc etc. He came round in the week to use my inspection pit to give his Toyota a service. He spent over an hour under the car just trying to get the oil filter off. He gave up in the end and just changed the oil!
He should have used the hammer and chisel method
 
He should have used the hammer and chisel method
Not as simple as that these days!

The filter element is replaceable (like an air filter), the canister it fits in is not. The canister is screwed on (with an adaptor that fits over it) and locked with a slide in clip. He couldn't get the clip out.

.. which maybe because he didn't know it was there and was leaning on it with a breaker bar before I consulted Mr Google and told him about the clip!
 
Not as simple as that these days!

The filter element is replaceable (like an air filter), the canister it fits in is not. The canister is screwed on (with an adaptor that fits over it) and locked with a slide in clip. He couldn't get the clip out.

.. which maybe because he didn't know it was there and was leaning on it with a breaker bar before I consulted Mr Google and told him about the clip!
The young ones will never learn :D
 
@PopRivet .
You're rear shoes are the original factory set. They have a huge life, so will last you a long time yet. Did you make sure that the dimpled standoffs were shiny clean and lubed with a smear of copper grease? The shoes must be able to slip freely against the backplate, or snatching on will result. This is very scary should you need to use the HB in an emergency situation. :eek:
Good to see all the springs in the correct places though. ;)
 
@PopRivet .
You're rear shoes are the original factory set. They have a huge life, so will last you a long time yet. Did you make sure that the dimpled standoffs were shiny clean and lubed with a smear of copper grease? The shoes must be able to slip freely against the backplate, or snatching on will result. This is very scary should you need to use the HB in an emergency situation. :eek:
Good to see all the springs in the correct places though. ;)
Yes, I used Copper Slip on the back plate. I'm aware there are certain features that need TLC, and that is one. Thanks for the info.
Oh, having bled the car's breaks, ensuring new fluid is throughout the system, everything is tickity-boo. The old brake fluid looked as if it had been burned, such was its colour. The handbrake works perfectly now too.
 
Your comments re the front caliber seals - I know exactly how you felt. That O ring seal and then the bellows- Yet another task where I believe mechanics earn their money! Like you I try to do that preventative maintenance - flexi brake lines, coolant hoses / thermostat, coolant tank & cap, cam belt- tensioner & coolant pump, sus' springs...., VCU owut, and on it goes.
 
Plop rivet . . . .when i modded my under tray, I measured first and cut a large hole were the sump oil nut is, so I could change the oil without taking the under tray off, I also made a removable cover for the hole, found this really handy over the years, just thought I would give a heads up :)
 
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