Breaky brakes

[Cam]

I would not bother..... I have never used it.

If it's where metal parts rub together then a LIGHT smear of copper grease is fine.

The red stuff is for things like cylinder internals and being as you are not doing that then ignore it!

[bigginger]

You can usually see where there's been metal/metal rubbing, it's bright and shiny. Use a tiny smear on there - or take Cam's tack. From distant memory, it helps to avoid squealing as the shoes vibrate against the back plate under braking, but it may just be lubricant. Bet you 5p you skin a knucke while fiddling with the springs...

[Cam]

Andrew, it seems we posted at the same time!! I'm not saying don't use copper grease!! Use it! Like you say it helps avoid squealing etc. I was on about the white grease.

Bet you 5p you skin a knucke while fiddling with the springs...

Or stab yourself in the palm of your hand with a screwdriver!!

[Pyoor_Kate]

This is why I'm encouraging Nikki to do it before she visits. Yes.

Definately better if she does brake fitting and bleeding *before* visiting

[bigginger]

Nonsense! It's a really satisfying job. one of the few where there's a definite point where you know it's 100% finished, and done as well as anybody could do it. Oh, and it makes the car stop better too, which is a plus...

[Kevin]

"Plink-Crack-Tiiiiinnnnggg" of my Chrome-Vanadium, Drop Forged, Lifetime Guaranteed,

If my memory serves me right these are 2 different types of material finishes and the one that breaks most often is drop forged as they are usually quite a bit cheaper and I dont remember seeing any with a lifetime guarentee other than proper vanadium, but its a while since I have bought any spanners.

[rayofleamington]

If it was down to me it would be illegal to put copper grease anywhere near the brakes (squealing is A PAIN BUT IT DOESN'T CAUSE BRAKE FAILURE...)

The white brake grease is generally impossible to buy but is used by people who make brake fluid parts such as slave cylinders etc..
Most ppl would just use normal grease then be confused when their brakes fail.

[Multiphonikks]

If it was down to me it would be illegal to put copper grease anywhere near the brakes (squealing is A PAIN BUT IT DOESN'T CAUSE BRAKE FAILURE...)

The white brake grease is generally impossible to buy but is used by people who make brake fluid parts such as slave cylinders etc..
Most ppl would just use normal grease then be confused when their brakes fail.

...

Which is why I haven't used any...

Co-incidentally, the brake nipple removal went extremely well, as did the brake pad replacement....

Until the final wheel. Got the new pads on, and got the old nipple off. Went to screw the new one in and it fell apart (The cylinder did)

So... Awaiting a new part this morning...

[Arfron]

Heat + brake fluid ?? I hope that this is all done off the car ?? Isn't brakefluid highly inflammable Arfron

[Cam]

Heat + brake fluid ?? I hope that this is all done off the car ?? Isn't brakefluid highly inflammable Arfron

No it isn't. Brakes get REALLY hot so it would be a bit daft having a really flammable liquid inside them!

I have welded through brake fluid and it smokes but does not catch fire.

We mentioned this before and as an experiment I tried to set fire to some and it would not ignite even when a soaked kitchen towel was tried to be lit with a flame........

[bigginger]

But it's a fair comment, loads of books say that it is. I've always wondered why! I guess we can list it with the "mobile 'phones cause fires in petrol stations" story.

[Arfron]

I take your point about the experiment , and welding through the lines; however , I have to agree with bigginger , that I have read many times that it is dangerous to get a naked flame, near brake fluid , not quite the same thing as just getting hot .
I was in the Girling research dept.( as a visitor , ) some years ago in Pontypool , when they were using a brake rig , to destroy brake disks -- they were running almost white hot -- but the fluid didn' t ignite . So I don't know ??? It would be interesting to find out . Arfron

[Cam]

and welding through the lines

It was not welding throught the lines, but a patch of fluid inside a chassis leg.

I have read many times that it is dangerous to get a naked flame, near brake fluid , not quite the same thing as just getting hot

It would be interesting to find out

Hmmm..... well, after putting a blowtorch on a brake fluid soaked piece of kitchen towel and it failed to ignite........ I sort of came to the conclusion that it was not flammable!

[Arfron]

Sorry Cam , I guess I mis-read your post. I've not tried to set fire to brake fluid , but I accept your findings -- only repeating the info. 'what I read in a book' ! Education+ learning can injure one's health + wealth .
Eh bien !! Arfron

[Multiphonikks]

We "re-bled" the brakes in Bristol yesterday and got them pretty damn firm. Thing is, when I drive, they don't seem so firm... I wonder if it's the new brakes or what? The brake travel is further, and they feel a bit... useless... ideas??? I really hope it's not the M/C....

[Kevin]

New brake shoes can take a little while to bed in properly but they should still be pretty good, you did adjust them correctly I suppose.

[rayofleamington]

I guess we can list it with the "mobile 'phones cause fires in petrol stations" story.

I doubt there has ever been a fuel station fire caused by a mobile - the logic behind that one is tied up with the 'electrical equipment for use in hazardous areas' regulations. Whether it will cause a fire or not is the practical side but on the legal side there are regulations and unless the electrical device is properly certified (mobile phones are not) then you can't use it by the petrol pump.
That's also the reason why petrol pumps have their displays at eye level - the zoning classification is lower as you get further from the fuel nozzle, so they can use a different class of equipment.

I once got told off for using my phone when inside the shop area of the petrol station - It just wasn't worth the hassle to explain how the rules work...
Plenty of people will have a phone in their pocket right next to the fuel nozzle when it is in the car. That is far from legal, but people think the rules only apply to making a call
I was told a while ago that the biggest cause of fires in petrol stations (other than maybe arson) come from when people drive cars onto the forecourt to investigate the 'funny smell' which turns out to be the car being on fire

[Arfron]

My cousin , who was in the police ,pointed out to me a site , which had blown- up ; a motorist had lit - up his ciggy , a fair way from the pumps and the vapour , which is heavier than air ( ? ) ignited --- no petrol station !!. ( I know that a naked light is not the same as a phone - , but it makes you think !!!

Come to think of it though , when coal was king in S.Wales and in the two remaining pits , mobile phones and anyg electical appliance was banned underground -- fire- damp is highly explosive ,as is petrol !!


Arfron

[bigginger]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/c ... 986509.stm

So carry on using your phone. just don't drop it!
Or don't if you still believe anything from (guess where) America...
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/05/ ... 7547.shtml

[rayofleamington]

Well if it was going to be anywhere - it would be America
I wonder if the dumbass student accidentaly had poured gasoline all over his phone in the process and wanted to see if it still worked 8:

And the first aricle was clearly from the US - Anyone who thinks that a microwave cooks food using 'radiowaves' is clearly a gifted American ;-)