879 replies to this topic

[jagman.2003]

*religiously opening topic every time it bumps to top hoping to see new pictures of the mini*

Chris

Thanks for the support. Unfortunately not much picture worthy this weekend. I played with the brakes some more. As mentioned above. I've been working on the bulkhead plates for the heater pipes to travel through. Also trimmed the front edge of the wing around the wheel arch to get better clearance on the 13" wheels. Sadly it meant doing some cutting, but it was small & quite tidy in the end. Just sealing that up now. Also have ordered some KAD steering limiters just in case they are needed for clearance. I have done similar in the past. Painted another wheel arch yesterday. Alot of jobs are just bumbling along at the moment. Should all come together at once though for a big photo fest! Another long term project is trying to tidy up the workshop. I have quite a few old a-series engines (850/998) so I'm making a stand to try & contain them a bit better. Will give me some more room for shelving then.

[minimikej]

Hi, If you are having trouble bleeding on a system with the rear brake limiter valve, I can sympathise. I tried with an easy-bleed and failed, and even with a traditional 2 man bleed we got nowhere at first. You have to be very gentle on the down stroke to avoid closing the brake limiter valve. If that locks off at all you won't be able to bleed anything on the atnospheric side of it.

Hello Mike, when the limiter closed did it stop all fluid coming through? I have had no problems so far getting fluid out of the rears. Just don't seem to have a very good pedal. Almost hits the floor first go, then second go it comes up better.

Hi, not quite, fluid just dribbled out. Granny, eggs etc but have you adjusted up the drums fully?
Cheers

[jagman.2003]

Hi, If you are having trouble bleeding on a system with the rear brake limiter valve, I can sympathise. I tried with an easy-bleed and failed, and even with a traditional 2 man bleed we got nowhere at first. You have to be very gentle on the down stroke to avoid closing the brake limiter valve. If that locks off at all you won't be able to bleed anything on the atnospheric side of it.

Hello Mike, when the limiter closed did it stop all fluid coming through? I have had no problems so far getting fluid out of the rears. Just don't seem to have a very good pedal. Almost hits the floor first go, then second go it comes up better.

Hi, not quite, fluid just dribbled out. Granny, eggs etc but have you adjusted up the drums fully?
Cheers

Thanks Mike, yes , I've given the rear a good look. Checked shoe positions, adjusted them until they virtually won't turn. Even tried some different drums. I've now purchased a larger master cylinder. Not mini specific but relatively easily adaptable. I found some people fitting them on this forum too. Just getting a couple more parts sorted. Might get lucky & fit it at the weekend. I had a similar problem on another mini based kit car which I always blamed the car for. Perhaps this was also the problem all along. Will update as as soon as I get it all fitted up.

Edited by jagman.2003, 18 July 2012 - 07:13 AM.

[jagman.2003]

Quick brakes update. I've got all the new parts I ordered except the revervoir feed pipe. Hopefully that will b with me early next week. I've got the master cylinder to basically fit. The standard cylinder push rod is just a bit too long so I've fitted a spare mini one with some modified washers. Just need to make a small spacer to go between the M/C & the bulkhead now. Pictures of assembly below. The rod that came with the M/C is above in the first pic. Hopefully get it properly mounted tomorrow. Most of the ideas for this came from this forum.

[minimuk]

Nice one, one observation... there should be a rubber seal/grommet between the pushrod and pushed over the main body edge....appart from that it is a nice shiny bit again

[Yoda]

This might sound a silly question but have you installed the front calipers correctly? as the last person i helped with fancy front calipers and no luck with bleeding the system, Turned out the calipers were on the wrong sides of the car and the bleed nipple was at the bottom of the caliper! Hopefully you have not done this, but if you have its an obvious easy fix.

[jagman.2003]

Nice one, one observation... there should be a rubber seal/grommet between the pushrod and pushed over the main body edge....appart from that it is a nice shiny bit again

Yes, thanks. It won't fit through the bulkhead hole. So I'm going to try & fit it once it's through. If I can squeeze my head into the foot well far enough.

[jagman.2003]

This might sound a silly question but have you installed the front calipers correctly? as the last person i helped with fancy front calipers and no luck with bleeding the system, Turned out the calipers were on the wrong sides of the car and the bleed nipple was at the bottom of the caliper! Hopefully you have not done this, but if you have its an obvious easy fix.

Good point. Your right that a few people have done this & had an easy fix. But mine are the right way round. I've just got to make up a small spacer & the mastre cylinder should fit ok.

[minimuk]

Nice one, one observation... there should be a rubber seal/grommet between the pushrod and pushed over the main body edge....appart from that it is a nice shiny bit again

Yes, thanks. It won't fit through the bulkhead hole. So I'm going to try & fit it once it's through. If I can squeeze my head into the foot well far enough.

I do not understand that bit of not going through the bulkhead hole, the seal/grommet is not wider then the body where the pushrod slides in and out off, the grommet/seal slides over that body edge with the pushrod through it, should be part of the kit,......unless you have made the hole in the bulkhead smaller.....

[jagman.2003]

The hole for the

Nice one, one observation... there should be a rubber seal/grommet between the pushrod and pushed over the main body edge....appart from that it is a nice shiny bit again

Yes, thanks. It won't fit through the bulkhead hole. So I'm going to try & fit it once it's through. If I can squeeze my head into the foot well far enough.

I do not understand that bit of not going through the bulkhead hole, the seal/grommet is not wider then the body where the pushrod slides in and out off, the grommet/seal slides over that body edge with the pushrod through it, should be part of the kit,......unless you have made the hole in the bulkhead smaller.....

The hole for the bulkhead is exactly the same size as the location diameter of the master cylinder. As this is a larger bore master cylinder the diameter just after the pushrod & the rubber dust seal have got larger. The rubber won't fit through the hole if it's in place. But can be re-fitted once it's through. I'll put some pictures up if I get a chance.

Edited by jagman.2003, 23 July 2012 - 12:11 PM.

[minimuk]

The hole for the

Nice one, one observation... there should be a rubber seal/grommet between the pushrod and pushed over the main body edge....appart from that it is a nice shiny bit again

Yes, thanks. It won't fit through the bulkhead hole. So I'm going to try & fit it once it's through. If I can squeeze my head into the foot well far enough.

I do not understand that bit of not going through the bulkhead hole, the seal/grommet is not wider then the body where the pushrod slides in and out off, the grommet/seal slides over that body edge with the pushrod through it, should be part of the kit,......unless you have made the hole in the bulkhead smaller.....

The hole for the bulkhead is exactly the same size as the location diameter of the master cylinder. As this is a larger bore master cylinder the diameter just after the pushrod & the rubber dust seal have got larger. The rubber won't fit through the hole if it's in place. But can be re-fitted once it's through. I'll put some pictures up if I get a chance.

understood, I would be tempted to widen the hole rather then fiddling upside down under the dash,through an nearly impossible accesable hole, u need to get yr peddle rack out etc.......just a thought

[Down&Out]

Superb arches you have there!

[jagman.2003]

Superb arches you have there!

Thanks, I'm looking forward to getting them all fitted & get the ride height right. After I realised the first ones just weren't wide enough for me these new ones were just what I was after. Thanks to the development of Dirk on his mini cooper on this forum.

[jagman.2003]

Finally some progress with the brakes. Fitted new master cylinder & reservoir. With the help of my trusty girlfriend (trainee mechanic) I was able to bleed the system. I didn't have a decent easi bleed cap so did it the old fashioned way of manual pumping & shutting the bleed nipple on & off. The girlfriend is getting very good at this now. Got all the air out from the rear but went round & did the front just to be sure. I've got alot better pedal now. No pumping up either. That meant I could crack on with other jobs that have been waiting. Tidied all the brake parts up. Put original minifin drums back on. Bolted servo back into proper place. Adjusted clutch. Secured & connected main battery cable on front subframe. Had a look at putting rack limiters on but couldn't see how to get split nylon ring over the rack.
Some pictures below of mounting master cylinder. I think if I did this again I would have installed a split system. Probably safer & apparently has more cylinder capacity. Just some stages below showing method of installation. I managed to get rubber boot on after it was pushed through bulkhead. Ok it did mean gettiing in the footwell & cussing for a few minutes. Not a pretty sight with my legs in the air!

Edited by jagman.2003, 28 July 2012 - 06:48 PM.

[minimuk]

shiny stuff....bet yr girlfriend was inpressed going through all the trouble wit yr legs in the air to put a rubber thingy on lol.....great work by the way...