The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Right, I had a go at sorting my front brakes today. The offside caliper was a doddle, got all the seals changed without any difficulty. The nearside, however, is proving to be a different matter. The inner piston comes out quite happily, but the outer one is incredibly stiff. We managed to get it out wit ha lot of difficulty, but couldn't get it back in after cleaning up. We then tried to get it out to try again, and it won't budge. Has anyone got any suggestions? Is the caliper basically scrap, or am I just doing something wrong?

Cheers,

Nick

have you cleaned the outer rim the caliper this does get a bit rusty needs to be cleaned off as it's the same size bore all the way in usualy because the rubber seal is broken etc...

and clean the burrs of the calliper bore with a needle file. It will be burred at the top edge and on the edges of the seal groove. It must be spotlessely clean and should be a nice sliding fit without the seal.
Jonners

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Note from Admin: sadly Jon passed away in February 2018 but his humour and wealth of knowledge will be fondly remembered by all. RIP Jonners.

Cheers guys - still need suggestions for how to get the piston out though!

2 old screwdrivers or pry bars.

lightly lubing up the piston with brake fluid before inserting into the bore helps the baby slide more smoothly.

mmmmmmm... lube...

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2009 Mini Clubman Cooper S Daily Driver.
1980 Dolomite Sprint with a touch of BLTS
Balanced Lightened and Tweaked 13B Rotary and SuperCharged.
Back in my possession 22 September 2019.
Rebuilding the Sprint time taken so far, 111Hrs@15/12/2020
212Hrs @31/12/2021
352 @ 28/11/2022
455Hrs @ 20/10/2023
480Hrs @ 14/03/2024
This is time taken at the Sprint not necessary time worked.

Working on a ratio of just 7Hrs a day not including driving to the Sprint.
That equals to 68 days that doesn’t include weekends.
Member TDC no 0471

Project 13B Sprint now back on.

Got that fixed now

Next problem - I took her out for a quick test drive having got the steering and brakes back together, and there seemed to be something up with the back end - it felt as if something was loose, but I'm not sure what. Anyone got any suggestions?

Also, a couple of times when I've gone out after it's been closed up for a while, I've been able to smell fuel inside the cockpit. It's been suggested to me that this is due to the tank leaking, but I can't smell anything in the immediate vicinity of the tank. I've also noticed that there is a hole in the bottom of the well in the boot, that looks like it ought to have some sort of plug in it, so the tank can't be sitting in a puddle, but is probably covered in mud.

If you had a leak at the tank, the fuel would come out of that hole. (been there, done that. ). I would take a look at the rubber fuel hoses under the bonnet, as if they're old they can leak (been there, done that too. )

As to the floppy rear end, chances are the tie bar bushes are worn, which lets the axle squirm a bit under acceleration. Check out all the bushes at the back just to make sure.

as above it could be split O's or carb flooding on startup,
back end floatyness could be worn bushes.
nick, you gave me the wrong phone number the other week.

Oops, much have been a typo - you have PM.

Nick, I'd be surprised if it was the tank.....although I too have had problem with split fuel hose....I know it sounds silly, but have you checked the float chambers are not over flowing - maybe crud around the shut off??

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Previous owner of 42 Dolomite shaped vehicles, 14 Sprints, 12 1850s, 8 1500s, 3 V8s, 3 Toledos and 2 SEs

The fule smell needs investigating....it will probably be one of the short runbber joining sections somewhere along the fuel pipe, or even a rusty section thats gone porous...
Do not use naked flame to investigate...arf arf...

On the floaty feel, if it wasnt there before, then have a look at what you did! If it was...then worn radius arm bushes give a disconcerting twitch on bendy bits...

Jonners

_________________
Note from Admin: sadly Jon passed away in February 2018 but his humour and wealth of knowledge will be fondly remembered by all. RIP Jonners.

Fuel smell after its been standing for a while could be a sticking float needle causing initial overflow of the float chamber(s); if the overflows hve the long tubes attached to issue this to the floor you'd unlikely smell it, if they haven't you might...