Second pair of hands, a 2ft length of scaffold pole on spanner, and a big pipe wrench on the shock sorted it. The shock was being replaced anyway but it did survive.

New HD spring and shock are now fitted to N/S/F. Caliper was removed, cleaned up and refitted. It appears to work OK. Won't be road tested until all four corners are sorted though.

Noted that there was no bottom clamp plate fitted on spring as there is on the rear. Spares list diagram doesn't show the existence of them at the front either, but I have seen them on eBay for £10+ a pair. Seems a bit dear for just a bit of plate with two holes in. I don't propose to do any serious off road stuff in it, so are they necessary on a standard suspension set up?

Johnny.

Just a progress report ... it now has four new HD springs and four new shocks fitted, but I've not uncovered anything obvious on brakes, other than that the 'Not a lot of braking effect' syndrome is still active.

I'll run it round the block tomorrow to see what's what, but I strongly suspect I'm gonna have to pull all the calipers right off and strip 'em down to sort this out. I suppose renewing all the rubber hoses will be a good idea, and having done the shocks all round, I suppose the steering damper should be done too. It is a bit of a moo to keep in a staight line, but I'm told that they are bit prone to that. Methinks a new damper can only help though.

My assistant looks kinda cute with a big splodge of black waxoil centre top on his shaved head. I wasn't totally evil, I did tell him it was there before he went home.

Johnny.

Well,

I did the master cylinder, and today I changed all the callipers.

I ruined a few of the brake lines, so my task one evening this week is to start replacing those.

I've given all my brake hoses a good stretching whilst changing the springs and shocks. They seem OK. No leaks or owt, but I'm budgeting for replacements all round. Probably go for the steel braided as Kev suggested. My stainless steel sports exhaust is rapidly fading into 'maybe next summer' now. This bitch is costing me more than the wife, but I still luvs 'er.

Johnny.