VdubEd's Mk1 Cabriolet 'Felix'

[Peter Jones]

Which line did you break? Most brake places will be able to make you a new one, they're really easy if you've got the tools.

[VdubEd]

Excellent I didn't think it would be too hard. Hopefully I can find somewhere I can get everything I need on monday. Cheers, Ed

[mikinoz]

Nice to see everyone is getting stuck in to their builds over the Easter break.

Which hard line are you wanting the one on the trailing arm? If I have one and can find it today I will give you a shout.

[VdubEd]

Yeah rear right trailing arm, it was seized into the old drum cylinder and the head was already rounded off so i couldn't get any grip on it. In the end I snapped it off thinking it would be easier to replace than to waste time getting it off. Glad i did because even after snapping it off i couldn't get it off. I'll try at work tomo with a vice. Anyway if you've got one that would be great. PM me to sort something out!

Installed the hand brakes today after cutting them down. Went in easy, sadly I'll have to wait until next weekend though to finish it off... along with tinkering with a few other bits of general maintenance

[VdubEd]

So the brake installation hit another small snag this with the master cylinder giving up on me whilst trying to bleed the brakes! Thanks to Matt down at Camden GTI I've got a second had master cyliner & booster on their way up to sydney and should arrive tomo, bit of bummer to have to fork out more, but at least the whole system should be good as new. Hopefully I’ll be able to bleed the brakes and get out for a spin in the next couple of days!

[VdubEd]

Help please; ok so I've installed a new brake booster and master cylinder, then I tried to bleed the brakes today. After bleeding the brakes to the best of my ability the pedal was still spongy and the brakes weak so I figured i'd done a bad job of it and there was still air in the system. I took it to a local mechanic who bled the brakes but still the same issue. The brake pedal goes half way to the ground before I get any response. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, ed

[Preen59]

Sounds like you still have air in the system, dude.

Try pressure bleeding it if you can. That can make things a bit easier.

I hate to sound like a prick, but did the local mechanic know what he was doing?

Can you explain how you went about bleeding the brakes (just to confirm you were using the correct technique- no condescension intended)?

[VdubEd]

Haha preeny, no worries not condescending at all, I'm the one asking for help so any advice is appreciated.

I used the two man method whilst pumped the pedal I released the bleeder nipple, then tightening it to stop air being sucked back in between pumps. Then tightened it whilst he held the pedal to the floor. I think the mechanic used the same method from talking to them afterwards but I left them to it whilst I went to the shops so not sure. Whether they know what they were doing, well I wouldn't like to comment on someone else's professional ability and it was really good of them to help me out at such short notice so I let you make your assumptions on that call.

Anyway I'll try and get it somewhere where I can get it pressure bled and see if that doesn't fix it up.

Thanks, ed

[VdubEd]

So had the brakes pressure bled and seems to have made a difference the pedal's still a bit spongy but Seems to be firming up the more I use it. The rears are rubbing a bit that's pretty standard immediately after changing the rotors and pads isn't it? We'll see how it goes but i reckon its all fine now. Big thanks to everyone who's given me advice.

[gldgti]

Hey mate did you do new calipers?

If so, it takes some time for the seals to bed in properly - what can happen is the seals will flex and stick in the bores, and the pistons will retract away from the disk a lot further than normal. This makes the pedal travel way too far than what you would expect.

A good way to rectify this is just to put a broomstick on the brake pedal (depressed) overnight. This allows the seal to creep further out and will improve the pedal feel.

Quite common when you've done a major brake overhaul. The broomstick trick told to me by one of the most experience mechanics I've ever met, factory porsche guy who also worked with an F1 team for a while and now does exclusively porsche.

If you havent done the broomstick trick, you may find it just gets better over time as you use it (sort of sounds like it is to me from what you've described)

I also changed MC and booster last weekend and only took me 10minutes to bleed the whole system with wifey doing the pedal and me lying on the floor making a mess with the brake fluid (its about time I got a new bit of tube for my bleeder bottle I reckon )

You still keen for the supersprint?

[Preen59]

I didn't mean to insult the mechanic you went to, only a question.

So had the brakes pressure bled and seems to have made a difference the pedal's still a bit spongy but Seems to be firming up the more I use it. The rears are rubbing a bit that's pretty standard immediately after changing the rotors and pads isn't it? We'll see how it goes but i reckon its all fine now. Big thanks to everyone who's given me advice.

Good to hear, dude. Mk1 brakes can feel slightly spongey due to the linkages etc.. See how it goes and if you can, compare with another Mk1 with the same brakes.

The pads should have a very slight resistance when you free spin the wheel- Nothing to worry about.

Also, Aydan's point is valid.

[VdubEd]

Thanks guys, sorry for the late reply, hectic few days.

I'm still keen for supersprints but not 100 percent sure whether I'm going to have to come in to work on that Sunday so just need to sort that out before I commit to anything.

Annoyingly something seems to be binding/scraping a bit on the rear left so I'm not driving it untill I get that sorted but the pedal seems to have come good. Hopefully it's nothing serious and I can sort it out tomo

[gldgti]

bent hub maybe? or handbrake cable adjustment...?

Thanks guys, sorry for the late reply, hectic few days.

I'm still keen for supersprints but not 100 percent sure whether I'm going to have to come in to work on that Sunday so just need to sort that out before I commit to anything.

Annoyingly something seems to be binding/scraping a bit on the rear left so I'm not driving it untill I get that sorted but the pedal seems to have come good. Hopefully it's nothing serious and I can sort it out tomo

[VdubEd]

So the cars been sitting idle for a few months as I couldn't afford the ridiculous price of a new starter motor in this country but I picked one up (new for £35) in uk got back Friday and chucked that in straight away.

Following that got right on to fittings new interior:









Looking good, just a bit worried about keeping the white clean?!

[EwenHayton]

Very Jealous, All my foam in my drivers seat sides needs replacing! would love all new seat upholstery. How easy was it to fit?