Stratton Jimmer Posted January 26, 2023 Report Share Posted January 26, 2023 The nearside rear brake cylinder on the early Mk3 GT6 has blown and leaked Dot5 inside the drum. Given that it is probably 52 years old, should I replace it or repair it? Should I do the pair at the same time? I'm not even sure if replacement seals are available these days. Any advice would be welcome. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unkel Kunkel Posted January 26, 2023 Report Share Posted January 26, 2023 Depends on what the piston and the bore are like. If there is doubt about the surfaces being corroded :replace. Certainly do as a pair. Depending on history, maybe a time to review other parts of the hydraulic system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratton Jimmer Posted January 26, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2023 A quick scan shows that Rimmer, Canley and Paddock all have seal kits. New cylinders are not overly expensive so I think I will change the pair of wheel cylinders. Are new fitting kits recommended or will the old suffice? Would this be "spoiling the ship for a ha'porth of tar"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted January 26, 2023 Report Share Posted January 26, 2023 Early wheel cylinders are surprisingly cheap on Rimmers, around £12. Repair kits £7. I'd just replace both cylinders Late cylinders are however hen's teeth, I got 2 spare in the drawer! Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted January 26, 2023 Report Share Posted January 26, 2023 What is the fitting kit?!! Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratton Jimmer Posted January 26, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2023 The fitting kit is the spring clips and the like. It is listed on Paddock's site. My six is an early Mk3 KE3529-O so everyone stocks the cylinders. I'm taking in the Stoneleigh show in a couple of weeks time so may just have a look at what might be available there and if nothing, order them afterwards. There's no rush as the weather isn't exactly conducive to doing such a job out on the drive. I don't have a garage as such but do have a car port. Meanwhile I can use the Sixfire! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted January 26, 2023 Report Share Posted January 26, 2023 As it happens my 13/60 is 'up the road' with the local garage having rear brakes checked out - drivers side has started to stick from time to time. I'm waiting for him to get back to me but I have checked out French suppliers ready for any parts needed. Should it be the cylinder I will replace both sides with new plus if the mechanic has any doubt the fixing kits and anything else that might be on its way out. I don't know when/if these parts were changed. The parts are quite cheap and as it is the brakes, which apparently are quite important 🙄, I will stump up 😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted January 26, 2023 Report Share Posted January 26, 2023 by fitting kit do you mean the two horsehoe clips if they are the black finished tempered sprung its often the old are fine after a clean up any aftermarket shiny ones generally dont interlock and are rubish you must check for back plate grooving at the HB pivot fit the clips flat one against the backplate the curved on to lock over the top of the fat one disconnect the HB cable fully lock the shoes up then refit the cable to a nice fit no tension de adjust about oneturn 4 clicks Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratton Jimmer Posted January 27, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2023 Thanks Pete, that tells me an awful lot more that the Haynes manual. I have decided that I might as well do both sides with new cylinders, pistons and seals. Also included will be the dust covers. I shall follow Pete's advice about the spring clips too. Thanks everyone for your advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted January 27, 2023 Report Share Posted January 27, 2023 16 hours ago, Chris A said: As it happens my 13/60 is 'up the road' with the local garage having rear brakes checked out - drivers side has started to stick from time to time. I'm waiting for him to get back to me but I have checked out French suppliers ready for any parts needed. Should it be the cylinder I will replace both sides with new plus if the mechanic has any doubt the fixing kits and anything else that might be on its way out. I don't know when/if these parts were changed. The parts are quite cheap and as it is the brakes, which apparently are quite important 🙄, I will stump up 😉 Avoid new springs for retaining the brake shoes, the little ones with the caps. New ones are more suited to a biro or suchlike, really weak. The old ones are always fine, if grubby. The main issues seem to be wear or corrosion of the backplates, easily rectified with some emery/a file and rarely a bit of weld. New cylinders are a good idea, as is using some copper grease to allow all to move sweetly. I usually take the adjuster apart, clean up and regrease, makes life easier and means they won't seize next time you have to adjust them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted January 27, 2023 Report Share Posted January 27, 2023 1 hour ago, clive said: as is using some copper grease to allow all to move sweetly I put a tube of copper grease in the boot along with imperial sockets & spanners ( don't forget here it is mainly metric). I forgot to tell the mechanic there was the grease, memory failure again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted January 27, 2023 Report Share Posted January 27, 2023 and do make sure the trailing shoe has the unused rectangular hand brake lever hole is at the bottom many get the trailing shoe upside down and that makes brake performance and HB less than good Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanMi Posted January 27, 2023 Report Share Posted January 27, 2023 You will probably want a new set of shoes as well as the old ones will be contaminated with brake fluid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted January 27, 2023 Report Share Posted January 27, 2023 I remember my dad setting fire to contaminated brake shoes! Off the car obv. Works well. brake fluid burns easily. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteH Posted January 27, 2023 Report Share Posted January 27, 2023 27 minutes ago, dougbgt6 said: I remember my dad setting fire to contaminated brake shoes! Off the car obv. Works well. brake fluid burns easily. Doug More of the "stuff we did". Much of which would get the "Elf & safety" Police wanting to "flog" and clap you in irons to-day. Nowt wrong with that, they where all asbestos back in the day anyway!. "We" burned old engine oil back then too, one way to keep garage warm!. I understand that`s a "flogging" offence now? Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted January 27, 2023 Report Share Posted January 27, 2023 23 minutes ago, PeteH said: "We" burned old engine oil back then too, I take mine to the dump where they have a giant vat. I wonder what becomes of it? I remember as an apprentice being told to pour mercury from broken glass switches down the sink. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted January 27, 2023 Report Share Posted January 27, 2023 3 minutes ago, dougbgt6 said: I take mine to the dump where they have a giant vat. I wonder what becomes of it? When nobody is looking they use it to heat their 'office' 😱 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DVD3500 Posted January 27, 2023 Report Share Posted January 27, 2023 Slightly off topic: Has there been any proof that the 1" rear cylinders were simply a case of rationalization and not an attempt to improve rear braking on 1500s? I am rebuilding my Spitfire using parts from MKIVs and 1500s and was going to use the longer 1500 drive shafts and cylinders in the rear and was always wondering about those changes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trigolf Posted January 27, 2023 Report Share Posted January 27, 2023 1 hour ago, Chris A said: I take mine to the dump where they have a giant vat. I wonder what becomes of it? It goes in a centrifuge and then the filtered remains turn up as bargain engine oil in your local cheapo shop - possibly????!😄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted January 27, 2023 Report Share Posted January 27, 2023 7 minutes ago, trigolf said: It goes in a centrifuge and then the filtered remains turn up as bargain engine oil in your local cheapo shop - possibly????!😄 It's certainly recycled; there's a place near me that collects it. No idea what it ends up as, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted January 27, 2023 Report Share Posted January 27, 2023 Centrifuging is too energy intensive! Oil re-refining companies -and there are a dozen or more in the UK - will separate the heavier contaminants in a settling tank, that allows water to float to the top too. Then it's refined, like crude oil. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josef Posted January 27, 2023 Report Share Posted January 27, 2023 Oh that’s interesting John. Coming from a background in chemistry I assumed the engine oil was treated like our non halogenated waste which was burned and the fumes scrubbed. Re refining is much more sensible! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteH Posted January 27, 2023 Report Share Posted January 27, 2023 Small matter of accuracy. No Lubricating oil`s have a specific gravity above 1 (Water) more usually around 0.8sg, in fact the only generally available oils to so do are the really heavy grades of Bunker C (sg max 1.005), There are some very specialised "oils" with sg`s above 1.0, in very small and expensive quantities. The sort of Heavy oils we burned in boilers and Marine Engines, Still did when I quit around 1980. Much of which is now only used in the sort of very old vessels coming to the end of their comercial lives. Centrifuging Lubricating oils used in marine engines is still commonplace, And All Heavy fuel oil was centrifuged before being heated to 80C and above for use in the main and auxiliary Engines. In recent times there has ben a massive reduction in the use of HFO, due to pressure from enviromental sources. The huge land and Marine boilers which fired with HFO`s are mostly now phased out, as with Coal, except for the like of China, India, and Russia, and other "usual suspects". Those remaining in "westernised" countries are being converted to use Bio fuels/Biomass. Some of the huge LNG ships actually burn the "boil off", about 1/2%/day from the cargoe as a means of keeping it liquified in transportation. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted January 27, 2023 Report Share Posted January 27, 2023 7 hours ago, PeteH said: "We" burned old engine oil back then too, one way to keep garage warm!. I understand that`s a "flogging" offence now? I am planning on making a waste oil fired heater. Still looking for some 4" steel pipe for teh flue as I have no wish to spend £80 on teh 3m length I need. Apart fron tham, a calor gas bottle and some odds and ends. Commercial garages CAN buy a licence, but I think about 2k a year per heater! Otgherwise they pay for it to be collected, then transported to Drax and burnt to make electricity to power the garage electric heaters.... I plan on cutting out the middleman. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Truman Posted January 27, 2023 Report Share Posted January 27, 2023 8 hours ago, PeteH said: "We" burned old engine oil back then too, one way to keep garage warm!. I understand that`s a "flogging" offence now? When I was at college mid 60's I used to service and maintain my Sprite Mk1 at a local garage (stables from an old big house) who put saw dust on his earthen floor from a local carpenter's works to catch oil spills etc as it got dirty he mixed the sawdust with old engine oil and burned it in a stove/burner to heat the stables, worked well. As said nowadays a whipping offence, they were different times!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now