alan.gilbert_6384 Posted February 18, 2023 Report Share Posted February 18, 2023 Hi All, So after a complete braking system rebuild pipes hoses seals etc, tested yesterday and functions correctly, BUT.......... Just after a second opinion, I think these new front hoses, as supplied by Mev spares, are way too short. I will try to contact him but dont hold out much hope as he does not answer either the get in touch thing on the web site or the phone. What do you guys think ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted February 18, 2023 Report Share Posted February 18, 2023 Not sure on your car but mine has a short solid pipe into the caliper itself and the hose joins to that on a bracket mounted on one of the caliper fixing bolts. Certainly I wouldnt have expected your new hoses to seal directly onto the caliper body with that copper washer.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Foster Posted February 18, 2023 Report Share Posted February 18, 2023 Alan This is the arrangement on my GT6, which has the short section of hard line as Jonny suggests. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted February 18, 2023 Report Share Posted February 18, 2023 does seem a tad on the tight side the threaded end of a pipe union or direct in the caliper are going to be very differing end fitting the copper washer is normal for a flat face union a pipe union needs a flared ended flexi to seal with a sleeve nut /pipe so whats been supplied looks installed ok but yes a bit tight routed , what happens on full bump /rebound ?? Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan.gilbert_6384 Posted February 18, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2023 2 minutes ago, Pete Lewis said: does seem a tad on the tight side the threaded end of a pipe union or direct in the caliper are going to be very differing end fitting the copper washer is normal for a flat face union a pipe union needs a flared ended flexi to seal with a sleeve nut /pipe so whats been supplied looks installed ok but yes a bit tight routed , what happens on full bump /rebound ?? Pete Hi Pete, It looks just about ok / marginal when hanging, this is how its been for a couple of months keeping the tyres off the ground during winter. Installation is per spitfire 1500 1976. They measure 23mm shorter than the Goodridge stainless steel ones that came off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan.gilbert_6384 Posted February 18, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2023 26 minutes ago, johny said: Not sure on your car but mine has a short solid pipe into the caliper itself and the hose joins to that on a bracket mounted on one of the caliper fixing bolts. Certainly I wouldnt have expected your new hoses to seal directly onto the caliper body with that copper washer.... Hi sorry should of said its Spitfire 1500 76 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan.gilbert_6384 Posted February 18, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2023 15 minutes ago, Ian Foster said: Alan This is the arrangement on my GT6, which has the short section of hard line as Jonny suggests. Ian Hi sorry should of said its Spitfire 1500 76 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted February 18, 2023 Report Share Posted February 18, 2023 yes I see now the Spitfire does have the hoses installed directly and the part number is GBH216 however there is another, shorter, hose with the same ends, GBH204, that is used for the rear brakes on earlier Spitfires. Even so I think youve got the right hoses but its interesting to see that Rimmers also offer GBH216PLUS50 which is a stainless braided Goodridge hose for Spitfire front brakes but 50mm longer - no explanation given.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted February 18, 2023 Report Share Posted February 18, 2023 Heres a shot from the free to download Triumph workshop manual that covers Spitfires (not 1500) showing an original hose installation (although the calipers look like type 12) and I reckon thats with the wheel off the ground.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Foster Posted February 18, 2023 Report Share Posted February 18, 2023 1 hour ago, alan.gilbert_6384 said: Hi sorry should of said its Spitfire 1500 76 No worries. Wonder why they changed it. Possibly being a later car they had seen an opportunity to save money, or is it typical of the whole Spitfire range? Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan.gilbert_6384 Posted February 18, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2023 44 minutes ago, johny said: Heres a shot from the free to download Triumph workshop manual that covers Spitfires (not 1500) showing an original hose installation (although the calipers look like type 12) and I reckon thats with the wheel off the ground.... Cheers, yes i think that is of the ground. Really interesting that bit about trimmers +50, the invoice from MEV spares says 216 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan.gilbert_6384 Posted February 18, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2023 9 minutes ago, Ian Foster said: No worries. Wonder why they changed it. Possibly being a later car they had seen an opportunity to save money, or is it typical of the whole Spitfire range? Ian Ive always wondered why its different between Spitfire and GT6, maybe someone here knows why ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted February 18, 2023 Report Share Posted February 18, 2023 Well GT6 and Vitesse do use the bigger type 16 calipers... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanMi Posted February 18, 2023 Report Share Posted February 18, 2023 Is it just me but the upper arms look to be at a very steep angle which does not look right. Is the car sitting very low? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted February 18, 2023 Report Share Posted February 18, 2023 Seems to be pretty similar to the manual drawing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanMi Posted February 18, 2023 Report Share Posted February 18, 2023 13 minutes ago, johny said: Seems to be pretty similar to the manual drawing? If you look at this the upper ball joint's pin is at 90 degrees to the arm but above it is more like 60. It could be just the picture Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted February 18, 2023 Report Share Posted February 18, 2023 Think the suspension is more loaded in Alans photo then in the manual so the bottom arm is horizontal and the top arm angled upwards more meaning the top ball joint will have changed position to suit.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted February 18, 2023 Report Share Posted February 18, 2023 Those hoses are too short. This isn't uncommon. The GT6/Vitesse arrangement stresses the hoses less but on the Spitfire/Herald you do need extra long hoses for full lock, and they end up being rather floppy at the other extreme of lock. Many suppliers just make them too short. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanMi Posted February 18, 2023 Report Share Posted February 18, 2023 15 minutes ago, johny said: Think the suspension is more loaded in Alans photo then in the manual so the bottom arm is horizontal and the top arm angled upwards more meaning the top ball joint will have changed position to suit.... surely the diagram would be with the car at rest, just as the car is above. The lower arm should angle down, I think that this has lowered springs, so the calliper is higher than the hose mount point when it should be lower, thus the hose needs to be longer. I had this on my car until I eventually swopped to adjustable seat height shocks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan.gilbert_6384 Posted February 18, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2023 47 minutes ago, DanMi said: Is it just me but the upper arms look to be at a very steep angle which does not look right. Is the car sitting very low? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan.gilbert_6384 Posted February 18, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2023 2 minutes ago, DanMi said: surely the diagram would be with the car at rest, just as the car is above. The lower arm should angle down, I think that this has lowered springs, so the calliper is higher than the hose mount point when it should be lower, thus the hose needs to be longer. I had this on my car until I eventually swopped to adjustable seat height shocks. Its at nominal height, ie as all spitfires with our bum 5 inches off the ground Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted February 18, 2023 Report Share Posted February 18, 2023 13 minutes ago, NonMember said: Those hoses are too short. This isn't uncommon. The GT6/Vitesse arrangement stresses the hoses less but on the Spitfire/Herald you do need extra long hoses for full lock, and they end up being rather floppy at the other extreme of lock. Many suppliers just make them too short. Fortunately, I think the worst scenario of full lock and full suspension compression is pretty unlikely but of course the risk assessment depends on the owner.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puglet1 Posted February 18, 2023 Report Share Posted February 18, 2023 How does the length of your new hoses compare with your old ones? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted February 18, 2023 Report Share Posted February 18, 2023 34 minutes ago, DanMi said: surely the diagram would be with the car at rest, just as the car is above. The lower arm should angle down, I think that this has lowered springs, so the calliper is higher than the hose mount point when it should be lower, thus the hose needs to be longer. I had this on my car until I eventually swopped to adjustable seat height shocks. I dont think ride height makes any difference to the hose length required as its really the shock that determines suspension travel. Really to check if the hose is long enough you need to move the suspension, minus its spring, up and down by hand at both full locks.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJB350Z Posted February 19, 2023 Report Share Posted February 19, 2023 Having read this I thought I'd better go see what mine look like because it was PO that fitted them. Mine are like the way Ian pictured them with the hard pipe. The hoses fit without any harsh bends etc. Excuse the dust.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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