Had the GTV down at Rusper for her first service and healthcheck since I bought her last month. Was dreading a hefty bill, but was pleasantly surprised to be told there's practically nothing wrong!
All it needs now is a brake fluid change, and a couple of bushes on the rear (the whole rear has been previously powerflexed, but a LONG time ago). I was quoted £80+VAT for a brake fluid change, but I wanted to have a go at it myself, as well as fit braided brake hoses - not because the cost is high, but because I really enjoy learning how to fit and fix.
For someone who's greatest mechanical achievement to date is replacing a MAF, am I already in too deep, or shall I have a go?
Fluid change is easy with an Eezibleed, you`ll need the extra cap kit to fit an Alfa reservoir though. Do the clutch at the same time, the fluid in mine was so black it looked like used engine oil.
Changing to braided hoses is more complicated in that the joints arel likely to be seized and you need to be careful to not bend, snap or round anything off.. Some decent spanners or brake pipe spanners, and some proper penetrating fluid (ie not wd40) will make life easier.
It's not too difficult but you may need to consider a few things.
For the unions, use a proper 11mm brake spanner. They're 6 point spanners with one side missing in order to get maximum contact with the union.
For the bleed nipples, slacken off with a 6 point socket and when finished, tighten with the same. For the bleed operation, use a conventional spanner but don't tighten too much for each bleed phase or you may round off the flats of the nipple.
Check the ends of the hard brake pipes where they enter the union prior to the rubber hoses. If there's rust there ( and it may be under the plastic coating ), there is a good chance that the pipe will be seized into the union. If that's the case, trying to turn the union with the brake spanner will result in the pipe twisting and fracturing.
Ensure you don't empty the ABS pump. That can be a whole lot of hurt and in some cases will require dealer work to rectify ( the manual does have a bleed procedure for it which may or may not work! ) and you have to get to the dealer with no brakes available.
If you do fit braided hoses, make sure you transfer the anti-chafe rings from the old front hoses to the new. The diameters are different so you'll need to be creative in keeping the chafe rings in the right place. I used some cable ties but there are probably better solutions.
The fluid capacity for the whole system is IIRC 400ml. I just managed to renew all the fluid with only one 500ml bottle of Castrol Response fluid ( plus some old stuff I had in the shed to put in the jam jar ). I should probably have got a 1 litre bottle and saved myself a little stress.
Have drip trays ready and plenty of paper towels.
As each corner is finished, clean up brake fluid spilt on the car. It dissolves paint.
The brake hose joints can be very tight. I always heat up the outer joint with a small gas burner and use cooling spray on the inner joint. I use welding pliers (locking type) on the joint instead of brake pipe spanners in order to get the best grip......
As Ian said, Eezibleed makes the job a doddle. I got another fluid reservoir cap from someone who was breaking a GTV and drilled a hole in that for the Eezibleed so I didn't have to shell out £15 for the extra set of caps.
I started this exact same job on my car at the weekend, only to have one of the unions shear on me. Immense amounts of swearing occurred. To add insult to injury, when I'd finally got a new bit of pipe and union in place, it turned out the braided hoses I've got are the wrong length so it was a waste of time
Having now looked into that Eezibleed thing and watched a youtube video ( why are they all French? ), I would certainly get one if I was to do the job again. It looks so much easier.
I am no expert, but I'm not an idiot either and I did think £80+VAT seemed like a bit of an easy earner!
Right, I shall attempt the brake fluid change! Aside from the Eezibleed, which I'll be getting what tools will I need to get? Can I pick these up from Screwfix or the like, or will Halfrauds stock brake pipe spanners?
As Ian said, Eezibleed makes the job a doddle. I got another fluid reservoir cap from someone who was breaking a GTV and drilled a hole in that for the Eezibleed so I didn't have to shell out £15 for the extra set of caps.
I started this exact same job on my car at the weekend, only to have one of the unions shear on me. Immense amounts of swearing occurred. To add insult to injury, when I'd finally got a new bit of pipe and union in place, it turned out the braided hoses I've got are the wrong length so it was a waste of time
Having now looked into that Eezibleed thing and watched a youtube video ( why are they all French? ), I would certainly get one if I was to do the job again. It looks so much easier.
Careful with nipples on the callipers, mine would not budge and thought they would snap off if I tried any harder. Waiting a bit longer and will get the callipers refurbished. Let us know how you get on. Good luck
Still haven't got around to this! Been too busy with work, and since it's a daily drive I don't want to screw it up and have it sitting for days/weeks! Weeks holiday week after next...I shall report back then
I bought a new ezibleed kit and the correct cap was included. Do do the clutch slave although its a ***** to reach and contain the oil but mine was black too since it just sits in the cylinder alll its life.
You absolutlu need the brake spanners even for the bleed nipples unless you have 10 and 11mm hex sockets
916 - you must have slack nipples. I had to purchase a whole new caliper cos some tool had overtightened the bleed screw and knackered it. The other 3 all required a hex, not bihex socket to avoid rounding the heads.
Or just have 6 sided instead of 12 sided spanners, I have spanners and sockets like this. Mind you I have both types also depending the job I am doing.
I usually have slack nipples but on one occasion one was very tight.. it was the one on the left when viewed from the front.. needless to say it snapped off.. I put it down to the cold weather we were having at the time..
Nipples are funny things. Some come quiite easily and others are as hard as Scammell wheel nuts.
It all depends how tight the last person did (or over did) them and how long they have been one. The problem being you often don't know until they break. Be patient, clean them up round the thread, drown them in plus gas/WD40 and clean again with a toothbrush (the wife's is usually best). Then WAIT. If they don't come fairly easily, apply some heat then repeat the WD40 and try again as they are cooling. Then cross your fingers and have another go. Well worth investing in some new ones.
The nipples can be hard work and tend to be as said often corroded and seized.: For future reference I've always put some rubber grease on the threads of the nipples and then forced some plastic tube over them with a small blanking grommet after packing the plastic tubes with rubber grease.Makes life easier next fluid change? :
Aren't the caps fitted? All mine have the rubber retainer caps so underneath it's as good as new! As for the bleeding though, I completely bled the car out in 45 mins with my dad, It's a doddle compared to a Mini
The Eezi bleed kits are good as they stop the mess and the ejaculate of fluid :cheese:
Starkers and I, have agreed to tackle this job together on Friday. We have an eezibleed, and lots of brake fluid. Hopefully it won't end with two ballsed up GTVs :lol:
And they will charge you two to three times what Machine Mart / Amazon would.
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