Spitfire front braided brake hose specs.

[Unkel Kunkel]

1973 Mk1V. Spitfire:

I bolted on  the front Goodridge s.s. braided brake pipes GBH216GR  I bought from Rimmers  a few years back.

Each with a nice , unstressed “S” curve.

But towards full-lock , they did look  a bit “tighter” and a tiny bit more stretched than I liked.

so readjusted them a  few times, and a few times more.

A bit better- but still not quite right.

I rechecked the  paper catalogue  ( couple of years  old) and also on-line R bros,  catalogue.

For Mk1V / 1500,GBH216GR  is listed on paper but is there is a GB216GRPLUS50” on line.

Another pair is listed on line  as “CPC”  and  numbered GBH216GRCPC

No explanation of why there are two listings (or three if you include the paper  catalogue ) does this mean one  is  50mm longer, and what does  CPC signify?
 

They have been in storage  a little while so what I paid  for them is now history, and as I didn’t feel comfortable with them, I decided not to use them.

Instead, I  ordered new pair from James Paddock (a  good price and always a very fast delivery)

These are almost identical, but a different make( Earl’s) but they are  sl.longer - so between the threaded sections approx. 37 cm compared with 35mm.

- And although the length isn’t a lot ..they fit just fine.

I am probably not seeing something obvious here, or perhaps  there have been some change.

but can anyone enlighten me, please?

Are there different   requirements / specifications for these?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[dannyb]

I believe there is only one size for the front. But there are two sizes for the rear depending on short or long drive shaft models. I have a set of used front braided in the garage also from Rimmers which are 20 years old. I will measure them and report back. 

Danny

[NonMember]

Last time I had a car with Goodridge hoses on type 14s (probably a Spitfire, maybe a Herald) I had the same problem that they got taught on full lock. The MOT man wasn't happy with it, either. I suspect there were "a batch" that were simply too short.

These days all three of my Triumphs have the type 16 caliper GT6/Vitesse setup. This routes the hose differently so that it doesn't get pulled and can be shorter. It wasn't the reason I changed the Spitfire but it was a contributory factor.

[Peter Truman]

The top hose appears to have a plastic sleeve coming out of the crimped steel sleeve, under Aus ADR rules this is what's reqd here as there worried about the S/S braiding work hardening and fraying, so the original Goodridge steel crimped direct onto the braiding are an immediate MOT fail!! same as we can't use copper brake pipes, Hey don't shoot the messenger! I can use the later Goodridge fully plastic sleeved S/S braided hose, mine is carbon fibre coloured for effect.

The extra length of the fixed fitting at the end with the plastic sleeve obviously shortens the S/S braided flexible hose length, I have the same problem here on the Sprint rear axle hose I had specially made its very tight because it has the short plastic sleeve, hasn't failed yet I keep an eye on it.

Stupid rules we have as stated we can't use copper (Automec style) pipe here on the cars BUT you can on trailers and caravans so I was told by a very experienced brake specialist, go figure bureaucrats & I thought the EU was bad enough!

[dannyb]

I measured my old ones 35cm 

Danny

[Unkel Kunkel]

1 hour ago, dannyb said:I measured my old ones 35cm 

Danny

Thanks, Danny.

 

 They just didn’t “ look right” when fitted. I am an amateur and rely on this  as my basic guide.

I contacted Rimmers

- Only to seek clarification.

They say that the PLUS50 does indeed  mean that there is an extra 50mm in length (between the fixed points of the bracket and the caliper)

adding GBH216PLUS50 “ should address the issues you are having”.

I asked then if the  braided ones, GBH216GR are still available ( as they are advertised in their current catalogue and their current downloadable version of  same) 

They say they are not available now- as theGBH216 PLUS 50 has” superseded them”

So Yes , they have made them 50 mm longer at some stage.

If you have these, it  might be an idea to check them whilst turning the steering lock to lock.