I can't stop!
With the parts sourced but not yet delivered for the front calliper refurb I have turned my attention to the rear brakes. New cylinders have been acquired to replace the seized ones and the drums and shoes have been checked and are fine to put back into service. Before we reassemble things though I thought we'd clean everything thoroughly and paint it do it looks nice. Did I mention I like shiny things?
Stripping off the back plate was easy enough, four simple bolts, but separating the old cylinder from the backplate proved tricky - the brake pipe union was an odd size, given that the Polo is German. I'd expect a metric size, but the union appeared to be somewhere between a 10mm and 11mm spanner size, neither standard metric or imperial. As the brake pipes were likely to need replacing it was no big problem when the pipe turned with the nut when I eventually got it turning with mole grips, ripping the old steel pipe in two as it did.
With the hub and backplate now separated from the car and each other both could be given a thorough inspection and a clean. The stub hub has no noticeable wear and can be pressed back into service after a bath in the parts washer. The backplate however showed evidence of previous bodgery, one of the cylinder mounting holes having been torn through and the back plate slightly twisted. A touch with the welder restored the hole to roundness and serviceability, whilst some judicious tapping restored the shape back to normal. The cylinder had been held with only one bolt before, but will now bolt firmly and squarely to the back plate. Whether the previous bodgery was responsible for the seizure or whether that was just time stood standing I'll never know, but it should be fine now.
A lick of black Hammerite will ensure the backplate shrugs off the worse of winter for a few years to come.
Whilst I wait overnight for the Hammerite to dry I also cleaned up the drum. Previous checks show it appears round and true and within tolerance, so all it needed was a good clean up, and a coat of silver VHT paint to smarten it up.
Reassembly of ther rear offside brake starts tomorrow, then it will be time to start over on the other side.
Progress has been slow today due to other household chores and taking Thomas on driving lessons in his temporary ride, a younger cousin of the Polo, being his sisters cast off 2003 SEAT Ibiza. At 17 years old this could well turn into our next modern classic restoration, but for now it's his daily driver in waiting once he passes his test.
No photos today, but I'll try and post more tomorrow once the paint has dried and things start coming back together.
Stripping off the back plate was easy enough, four simple bolts, but separating the old cylinder from the backplate proved tricky - the brake pipe union was an odd size, given that the Polo is German. I'd expect a metric size, but the union appeared to be somewhere between a 10mm and 11mm spanner size, neither standard metric or imperial. As the brake pipes were likely to need replacing it was no big problem when the pipe turned with the nut when I eventually got it turning with mole grips, ripping the old steel pipe in two as it did.
With the hub and backplate now separated from the car and each other both could be given a thorough inspection and a clean. The stub hub has no noticeable wear and can be pressed back into service after a bath in the parts washer. The backplate however showed evidence of previous bodgery, one of the cylinder mounting holes having been torn through and the back plate slightly twisted. A touch with the welder restored the hole to roundness and serviceability, whilst some judicious tapping restored the shape back to normal. The cylinder had been held with only one bolt before, but will now bolt firmly and squarely to the back plate. Whether the previous bodgery was responsible for the seizure or whether that was just time stood standing I'll never know, but it should be fine now.
A lick of black Hammerite will ensure the backplate shrugs off the worse of winter for a few years to come.
Whilst I wait overnight for the Hammerite to dry I also cleaned up the drum. Previous checks show it appears round and true and within tolerance, so all it needed was a good clean up, and a coat of silver VHT paint to smarten it up.
Reassembly of ther rear offside brake starts tomorrow, then it will be time to start over on the other side.
Progress has been slow today due to other household chores and taking Thomas on driving lessons in his temporary ride, a younger cousin of the Polo, being his sisters cast off 2003 SEAT Ibiza. At 17 years old this could well turn into our next modern classic restoration, but for now it's his daily driver in waiting once he passes his test.
No photos today, but I'll try and post more tomorrow once the paint has dried and things start coming back together.
Comments
Post a Comment