Blue Beauty from Malaysia

[simonc]

"'Ullo john, got me new rotors..."

Thought I'd share the update on the brakes gentlemen. Had to leave it with my trusty spannerman Azhar, as I was out of town. Glad to say all is done, front and back with new rotors for the front. However, as per a lot of things here, the first set of rotors delivered were of the 5 hole variety - idiots, "what part of 4 hole don't you understand?" Anyway, it's all sorted now. Here's a few pics to show you what went on. I wish I had been around as I'd have really liked to clean up the bits and pieces inside the arches. Still, another time I guess.
The pre-operative broken suspension look

Bit mankey eh?

Arrgggh, the wrong bloody rotors!

We've seen a lot more to do now

Wafer thin pads on both the rears

Azhar about to fit the new (and genuine) Bendix pads

Assembly

Oooooh, sexy!


The only thing I do want to ask you guys is that I feel the brakes are not exactly as I thought they would be. I expected major stopping power with the lightest of pressure on the pedal but to be frank, the brakes feel rather spongy and not "grippy" at all. Am I expecting too much too soon? Do the rotors and pads have to "wear in" before they bite properly? If anyone else has had new rotors and pads I'd be grateful for your thoughts.
BTW - found a bodyshop who is confident about redoing the wing, bumper AND matching the paint.
More on that anon.
Best regards and hope you guys in the south are not 3ft underwater!

Simon.

[prelude91]

My new 3g discs, calipers and pads took about 1500 miles to start biting properly, the caliper set up on your 4g seems identical to my 3g, or very similar, my trip to NZ is going really well, Malaysia for G.P. end of March is still on, hope you're well.

[simonc]

Hello matey, thanks for that. I was a bit jittery this morning because I guess was expecting anchors on with just the merest dab of the pedal. 1500 miles you say? Blimey, I'd better get a pork run organised to Singapore asap and get them bedded in properly.
Glad to hear the trip to NZ is going well, great place isn't it? Don't forget to drop me a line when you're on the way to Malaysia. Happy travels mate.

[prelude91]

Thanks simon, i'll be contacting my mate in Thailand tomorrow, and he'll book hotel and tickets for race weekend, he reckons 50 odd quid per night for a hotel, hope he knows best as he's lived 'locally' for more than 10 years, he's based in Thailand and works for a publishing company, be patient with the new brake set-up, I've had similar bedding in periods with my fj 12's in the past, are they identical calipers to my late 3g?

[prelude91]

We'll also be visiting 'pore during my stay, do you fancy meeting up , either way?

[wurlycorner]

Yes, new pads and discs will need a little while to bed in.

Your calipers and pad carriers are in absolutely amazing condition! Were they replaced recently as well?

Also interestingly, your shocks are not oem. Did you have them replaced, or do you know anything about why they were fitted? (car still looks as original ride height).

One of the clamps for the front brake hoses evidently wasn't re-connected when those shocks were fitted (see the red tab on the shock and the hose clamp just to the left of it in this pic:

Would be as well to get that fitted sometime when it's convenient, to stop chances of the hose chaffing (also check same on the other side.)

[simonc]

Hi Iain, thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated.
The calipers and carriers were recently refurbished as they were looking a bit tatty. He did a good job of cleaning them up didn't he?
Correct on the shocks. The original ones had seen better days so I got new Gabriel ones on each corner. Trouble is, that's what's started the bloody shock knock at the back. Ride height is original as you pointed out.
Thanks very much for pointing out the clamp issue. As Azhar is coming round to my place on Sunday to re-bleed the brakes I'm going to point this out to him and get him to rectify it. I'm very grateful to you for spotting this.
I'll let you know how we go on this Sunday and will take a few snaps to keep you gents informed.
Thanks again Iain,
Regards
Simon.

[simonc]

More on those damn brakes of mine!

Good morning all, my trusty spannerman came round yesterday to rebleed the brakes and generally listen to my moaning and winging about the distinct lack of feel since the new pads and rotors were fitted. He said he'd arrive around 9am but arrived promptly at 11:30 just as the temperature reached 34 bloody degrees. We have no car port by the way so I cannot tell you how miserable it was in that heat.



Anyway, heat and sweat not withstanding we got on with it, first on my agenda was to give a bit of a once over to the interior of the wheels. I think they scrubbed up nicely.



Azhar got on with the bleeding while I sat in the furnace-like car doing the pump and release bit. God, it was hot and miserable in there. Hasn't anyone invented a one man bleeding system yet?



Here's photos of all four corners.






However, after bleeding we still find the brakes are ultra spongy which leads Azhar to think it's the brake pump that perhaps is wonky. Here's the offending article.



We're going to see if we can track one down over here (fingers crossed) and one point Azhar made is that perhaps Blue Beauty could do with a larger one. Thoughts anyone?

Anyway, I'm not 100% with the brakes as the pedal is travelling a long way till it bites and even then it's very progressive. Could the brake pump be at fault?

Your comments and direction are of course most welcome. Thanks gentlemen, regards Simon.

[prelude91]

Still air in the system, perhaps?

[simonc]

Hi matey, fair point and to be honest you may be right. We did spend a lot of time doing the pump/release thing yesterday and as I'm no expert there still may be some trapped air somewhere.
I may not know the technicalities but I do know when my brakes don't feel 100%.
What do you think about the new brake pump idea?