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Springspeed
Member
| Joined: | Tuesday October 9th, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 6 |
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Posted: Tuesday October 9th, 2007 07:39 pm |
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HI,
I'm new on here, so hello everyone! 
Just wondering if anybody has replaced their front brake pipes? I have a 2000 Cooper Sports and have purchased a set of braided brake pipes and am having difficulty with the front set. On the passenger side there is a cut out in the inner wing, so you can get to the nut on the subframe end, however on the driver side I have no cut out and it seems impossible to undo the nut and brake pipe, as there is no room. Sorry, if this sounds stupid, however I'm quite mechanically minded and am now scratching my head!! 
Cheers in advance for any suggestions.
Stu
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Graham Bichard
Member
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Posted: Wednesday October 10th, 2007 10:28 am |
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Stu,
I've recently done this myself - its a right royal pain, but it is possible to get in from above (I can't quite remember whether we undid the rigid pipe above then held it with a socket and two 12" extentions, or removed bits and managed to wedge a spanner in - I tend to think it was the socket/extensions).
I also had a hell of a job loosening off the LHF pipe (and thats with the easier access!).
One other thing, I changed the rear pipes too. They were slightly shorter than the rubber hoses which made me think there would be a problem with the being stretched and maybe pulled out of the drum. Once the radius arm was bolted back together (damper bottom bolt removed for other jobs) all seemed okay over the range of movement. (Oh and the bleed nipples on the left and right hand drums were different sizes!! Work that one out!).
So, at the front - persevere!!!
Hope this (kind of) helps. Graham
Last edited on Wednesday October 10th, 2007 10:29 am by Graham Bichard |
Springspeed
Member
| Joined: | Tuesday October 9th, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 6 |
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Posted: Wednesday October 10th, 2007 07:06 pm |
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Thanks Graham for the advice. Glad to hear I'm not the only one who has had troubles!
It seems strange that there is a cut out on the passenger side, but not the drivers side - but I guess this is Rover for you!
I will be replacing the rear ones also, but wanted to get the hardest bit out the way first, i.e the front!!
Did they make any improvement once fitted to your car?
Cheers.
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DaveShreeve
Administrator
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Posted: Wednesday October 10th, 2007 11:16 pm |
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I cheated and changed them whist both the radiator and clutch were out of the car - loads of room!
Looking at my Spi, not yet changed, I'd suggest ECU removal would give much easier access. Then use extesion bars with a crows foot wrench to undo the solid brake pipe and a socket for the nut on the flexible. Application of a penetrating lubricant before you start would help give you the upper hand.
I don't think the bodywork in this area has changed much since 1959. Look under the bonnet of an early car; why would you need a cut out?
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hawaiianblue
Member
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Posted: Wednesday October 10th, 2007 11:35 pm |
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I made a hole in the drivers side to match the passenger side. Chain drilled the outline then cut it out with an air saw. A jigsaw or even a hacksaw blade will do it though.
Worth adding the hole because it makes access easer next time. and with any flexible hose, there is bound to be a next time.
Although if you take out the ECU tray, grille and air inlet duct you should be able to get a spanner on the hose retaining nut. tighten the hose from the hose side while holding the nut from the engine side. THEN remove the claiper and screw this onto the hose.
NB. getting the old one off is easy, just angle grind them off from the hose side.
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hawaiianblue
Member
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Posted: Wednesday October 10th, 2007 11:44 pm |
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Springspeed wrote: Thanks Graham for the advice. Glad to hear I'm not the only one who has had troubles!
It seems strange that there is a cut out on the passenger side, but not the drivers side - but I guess this is Rover for you!
I will be replacing the rear ones also, but wanted to get the hardest bit out the way first, i.e the front!!
Did they make any improvement once fitted to your car?
Cheers.
The reason for the cut out on one side is simple.
The inner wings basically havent changed since 59. The reason they made a cut out on the passenger side is because, the older side mounted radiators were on that side, so it negated having to remove the rad to access the pipe. However the drivers side had virtually nothing in the way, even as late as the late 80's there was no need. When they produced the MPi, they didnt warrant the expense of re designing the inner wing pressings. Ironically this left the passenger side not really needing an access hole as there was no longer a rad in the way.
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Graham Bichard
Member
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Posted: Thursday October 11th, 2007 07:06 am |
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Stu, its seems everyone has had this problem, so you're definitely not alone! As for them making a difference, to be honest not really but at least it should be a LONG time before you have to change them again.
The best thing you could do to notice a difference (my opinion only, of course) is to has all the brake fluid replaced by a garage using a power bleeder (i.e. one connected to an air supply - the fluid is forced through the lines not just pumped using the pedal/gravity). I didn't get it done this time, when I changed the hoses, but did have it done when I changed the fluid after buying the car. Even with rubber hoses the difference in feel was nothing short of phenomenal! (Absolutely solid pedal, easy to modulate pressure - recommended!).
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Springspeed
Member
| Joined: | Tuesday October 9th, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 6 |
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Posted: Thursday October 11th, 2007 04:17 pm |
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Thanks everyone, job for the weekend I think! 
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Graham Bichard
Member
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Posted: Monday October 15th, 2007 08:47 am |
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While we're talking about brake pipes, I discovered at the weekend I need to replace the RHR wheel cylinder. Does anyone know how I can block of the end of the rigid pipe to try and prevent the loss os fluid/make bleeding easier? I can't clamp the flexible pipe because it's braided!!!
Cheers
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Andrew1967
MCR Member
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Posted: Monday October 15th, 2007 07:16 pm |
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| We normally use an old female brake pipe nut with a small piece of old brake pipe (bent over and squashed in the vice) to prevent loss of fluid.
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hawaiianblue
Member
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Posted: Monday October 15th, 2007 07:29 pm |
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I keep hold of a few of the rubber covers you get with various pipes when you buy them.
Like when you get the new wheel cylinder, keep the plastic bung from it, these always come in handy.
I guess the other way to stop it, would be push a peice of washer tube or something over the end of the pipe, then clamp that/stick a bolt in the end.
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Graham Bichard
Member
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Posted: Monday November 12th, 2007 07:46 am |
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HB, did exactly that with the rubber bung off the new cylinder this weekend. How easy is that! Now I've got fantastic brakes again - solid pedal, easily modulated, so yes Springspeed I would definitely recommend braided hoses! Just make sure when you're fitting them you take the opportunity as I did to give the rest of the system a look over too!
(And I've kept the bungs too!)
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