DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

I keep thinking there's no point in a whole thread about getting my 914 on the road as there's just a thing or two to do...

Today I fitted the new track rod end - easy peasy
Organised the new tyres - decided for 185/65s from Dunlop
Tried to fit the new front pads - found the rubber dust cover/seals to be completely shot, so the calipers are now off the car. ATE calipers, one says 50 and the other 52, does that mean anything?
Tried to fit the new rear pads, but couldn't get the inner covers off the adjusting screws - stuck! [although the rubbers look in good nick]

So I need to find someone to refurb the front calipers - I just don't have time to do it.

Hey ho. I can see me not getting driving this season at this rate!

Graham

Classic car will refurb them - they've been used by people on ddk for 914, 911 and 356 brakes. They do a good job and are pretty reasonable.

Are the covers on the rear caliper adjusters plastic or the metal one with the hex fitting?

These people are expensive but the quality is superb.

http://www.pastparts.co.uk

Mr Pharmacist wrote:Are the covers on the rear caliper adjusters plastic or the metal one with the hex fitting?

It's the inner side I'm struggling with which is very hard to see whats's going on. They look like the standard ally covers.
On the outer side, one rear has the plastic cover (which was damp underneath, needs more investigation), the other side had no cover.

The inner side can be a bugger to get off. One of mine had chisel marks in it from someone trying to remove it. Caliper off is going to be the easiest way for you to get at it.

On the front side the weeping could be caused by the seals on adjusters.

Pelican have got a few articles about the calipers that might be useful and on 914world in their classic thread section there's a step by step guide to rebuilding them that will give you a good idea of what the parts are

Right another two paces forward, but one back. Got it all back together having put new seals in the front calipers, new pads etc. I worked out why I couldn't get the rear inner adjuster covers off. They were the M5 replacements from PMB, not M4!

However on bleeding the outer adjuster on one of the rears is now leaking (it looked a bit damp when I took the cover off). So that's got to come off now and be sorted.

Pedal is pretty spongy, so when I have sorted the caliper, I will have to bed the pads in, re-bleed and re-adjust the rears I reckon.

One day I'll get on the road! But it may not be before the winter at my current snail's pace. Now that's a thought, winter eh?

Hey ho.
Graham

gridgway wrote:ATE calipers, one says 50 and the other 52, does that mean anything?

No, those are casting #'s, probably mould #'s.

And to be clear it was after bleeding that I noticed the leak when seeing what the pedal was like. It's a bit squishy!

Had my calipers overhauled and silver electroplated at Bigg Red of Worcester www.biggred.co.uk. The young lady there has lots of 914 experience, it should take about two weeks to refurb a set to as new condition.

The rear calipers are relatively recent refurbs from PMB from when it was in the USA. I have taken the piston and the adjuster out and the o ring is a bit worse for wear. I'll put a new one in and see what happens. I think that might work hopefully!

Graham

so all back together with no obvious disasters. previously, the pedal was rock hard and the pads that were in there had no signs of wear and the friction material was very thick (3mm more than the new ones I have fitted). The pistons were pushed right back. I wanted to change to known pads as the brakes were not at all effective.

So I am on greenstuffs now. The pedal though is now quite long and quite squishy. The overall braking effect feels the same as before, but it just doesn't feel right.

I have changed the brake fluid and bleed each corner several times. I've hit the calipers with a hammer to dislodge air bubbles. There's certainly no air coming through.

The free play between pads and disks is pretty minimal (circa 4 thou). I've heated the pads up around the little road where I live and let them cool.

The brakes before passed the MoT brake test, but I am not convinced they will now. That's not good! The only way to get the brakes tested is another MoT.

What next?

Graham

I am guessing the pedal is consistent (eliminating air)?

If so, does it have rubber or braided hoses? Just thinking if the former you might have a weak one which is ballooning?

Cheers
Wayne

Are the calipers swapped over? Certainly on the 911, it is easy to swap them left to right which makes them very hard to bleed. Ask me how I know!

Another random thought from me Graham....

I understand the bias adjust or on the rear bulkhead in the engine bay can be problematic (can anyone shed any light on this?) I elimsted mine with a Tilton / Wilwood adjustable bias. It is then one thing less to go wrong

Cheers
Wayne

Good thinking Wayne.

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