stevebrookman
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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?
P38A 3rd time broke in 17 years-brake pipe kaput this time.
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Datatek
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Even my 44 year old Vauxhall Royale has a split reservoir! I'll wait until the weather warms I think!!!
stevebrookman
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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!!
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Best to replace the pipes all the way from the front arch joiners to the back, and the short links between the flexi pipes.
Flossie
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I seem to recall that you can get the rear liners off without disturbing the mud flaps but not the front.
doriz
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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
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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
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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.
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Like this:
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- Buckinghamshire, UK. ('95 DT)
Anyone who has a P38A and hasn't replaced the rear brake pipes by now is on borrowed time.
stevebrookman
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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.
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Progress, niiiiiiice
stevebrookman
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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
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Fluid should be changed every couple of years as it is hygroscopic and as others have found it can cause corrosion in the modulator.
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- Buckinghamshire, UK. ('95 DT)
The fluid really seems to get hammered in these cars. Definitely do at least every other year.
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