First of all - thanks to everyone who helped me diagnose Fiona's stopping problem - looks like I blew out a rear wheel cylinder on the passenger side brake drum, leading to a loss of hydraulic pressure.

Just ordered the "Big Brake" kit from MiniMania new drums, shoes, cylinders, copper "stinger" lines and flex tubing - basically the entire rear assembly.

Wish me luck! I'll take some (no doubt grimy) photos as I start tearing stuff down...

 

Good luck Matt. Remember brake fluid is a wonderful paint remover!

You & Amy will have fun bleeding those brakes.

 

I have a set of mountain bike brakes we could have rigged up they are disks and work on a 50 lb downhill bike I am sure they would stop a Mini

 

What fun would that be. There is no brake fluid or brake bleeding involved.

 

Actually they are hydros so same situation as car brakes

 

Just do one side at a time so you have the other side to refer to, you'll be fine!

 

This is a hugely valuable tip!!!

Also use line wrenches on the brake lines. It will save you grief.

 

What's a line wrench and where does one obtain one?

For bleeding, I ordered this:

http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...rrivals&page=1

 

A line wrench looks like a box end with a cut out just big enough for the line to fit thru. It allows you to grab more than just two flats of the flare nut so that it won't round off.

You can buy them at any parts store, or Sears.

 

Sears Hardware for the flare nut wrench or you can come over & borrow mine. You don't need that kind of brake bleeder. the old fashioned way will work fine for you.

When you have the lines off plug the brake lines so you do not empty the front part of the system especially the master Cly. That will save you a lot of bleeding. Once done you will want to bleed all of the brakes to change out that old fluid. If you empty the master it is a royal pain.

 

3/8 inch is what I need for all 4 brakes? I have the larger disc units up front.

Already ordered the brake bleeder thing - it was only $40. Hopefully there's enough fluid in the system that the master cylinder is still wet - sounds like if it's not though, the vacuum bleeder thing will help me prime the system...

Waiting on parts now...

Thanks!!

 

Once a master is dry you may or may not have to bench bleed it. Don't worry about that now just bleed away. No idea what size your bleeders are. You may want to spray them with a bit of penetrating oil if it has been a long time since the bleeders have been opened. Make sure to keep it off the rotors & pads. Also clean all the accumulated dirt away from the bleeders.

 

OT, OT
Chuck, do you have a 14mm fine thread tap? I need to clean up some threads on my left front hub. If not, it's time for a toy visit to Sears
Sorry Matt...back on topic.

 

Mark to tell the truth I can not remember. I have a nice metric set I bought at Sears 25 years ago. Come on over & get it. I'd guess there probably is one in there.

Back on topic...

Using leaches to bleed ones brakes.

 

Brakes aren't too bad, Matt. you just want to be sure and take your time and do it right. With the vaccuume it'll be tons cleaner. If there is anything I can do to help just lemme know. I started wrenching again at Midas. I'll get some more experience under my timing belt and then I'll hopefully be able to show off my ribbed belt at a better shop with Minis, or my own!

(All pun intended)

I have quite a few tools and plenty access to more!

 

Thanks, Mike - hopefully all my parts will come in before the weekend and I'll be able to do this (((looks for UPS man)))...

I found a whole set of standard line wrenches (labeled "flare nut wrenches") at Harbor Freight yesterday for $9.99 - much better than Sears' $19.99 *PER WRENCH* cost. Sheesh!!

 

Harbor Freight can be a great source for lots of things, you just have to watch the quality, some of their stuff is not so good.

Any of the "lifetime" warranted (notice they never say who's lifetime? )stuff seems OK for home use tho. I've bought tons of stuff from them over the years......

How's the brake job coming so far? Didja giterdone?

 

Parts should hopefully arrive today or Friday, and I'll do it Saturday. I'm actually excited to do this...

 

Matt you will do fine. You have the right attitude.

Nothing wrong with tools from Harbor freight. Well, some are carp, but you need to look at them & figure if you need a higher quality for the job at hand. Sounds like this time the Chinese tools are good enough.

 

Just like Crusty always says "they're better than good their good enough!"

 

Hell, even the motorized tools I've bought from them held up fine, let alone simple things with no moving parts like wrenches. It's not like I do this for a living and need a tool that will be used on a daily basis. Doesn't help that I've broken my fair share of (much pricier) Craftsman tools, and were then told that the lifetime guarantee didn't apply to them...

 

Really? I once found half of a Craftsman wrench and took it back and they just handed me a new wrench. My dad ran over some craftsman power tool when I was little and I remember him telling them what he did and they again just handed him another one free of charge.

 

I also have had no issues with returning broken Craftsman tools. I know that power tools & some others are not lifetime guaranteed anymore. As for how many I've broken over the years I'd guesstimate maybe 3 sockets & one 1/2 inch breaker bar. That one really hurt, smashed the carp outta my hand when it broke. Craftsman tools are still good, but I feel that the quality has dipped over the years. They are still a light year better than Harbor Freight tools. If you need quality they are still a decent value. Watch the Sunday paper for some good sales at Sears.

 

I'm on my 4th or 5th socket wrench... They keep replacing them with crappier and crappier reconditioned ones. The next time, I'm getting a Snap-on or somehting.

 

Strap on ones are way beyond my budget. Back when Odd Lots first came to town they had good tools cheap. I scored a load of New Briton wrenches & ratchets from them. I haven't been there in years, but maybe it is a place worth scoping out again.