Fiesta brakes

[Bren]

The brakes on our fiesta have always been a bit crap - they do not inspire much confidence.

 

MOT was passed but advised on the condition of the front brakes - in three years Of owning the car I replaced the rear shoes and changed the fluid once.

 

Local factors were quoting around £50 for pads and discs, I actually got mintex items delivered for £32.50 from a seller on ebay.

 

Strip down commences -

 

 

It was immediately obvious that the caliper carrier would have to come off as the disc will not pass over the studs unless it is removed. The bolts would not budge.

 

So I broke this out - not powerful enough to turn the heads of the bolts cherry red, a few minutes of heat and a socket hammered on got them free. I would have been bolloxed without it.

 

Everything was stripped and cleaned, best pad has about 3mm of material left on it. Discs had a very noticeable lip on the outer edge.

 

 

Everything back together- I need to change the fluid now as it looks like weak tea, however the bleed nipples look like a gust of wind would break them, so the blow torch will be out again tomorrow. Not how I would like to spend a day off, however it has saved me a few bob to spend on something else.

[twosmoke300]

No copperslip on the slider pins I hope

[Bren]

No - brake grease. The red stuff.

 

After wire brushing the bleed screws they started looking like Shane Mc Gowan's teeth.

 

Here is a picture of the great man himself

 

 

If I manage to get them loose without snapping it will be a result.

[twosmoke300]

You can bleed brakes without the nipples if you are keen . Take calipers off , pump out brakes as far as you dare , remove banjo or union . Let the fluid drip out til it runs clear ( topping up as you go) , make sure the caliper is full of clean fluid . Reconnect it all back up and slowly push the piston back . This should push the trapped air back up into the reservoir . Should !

[sierraman]

I did this a few years ago, same as yourself the caliper carrier was tight but a bit if leverage and some good five sided sockets did it. If ever there's a case for not using the 12 sided sockets in an instance this is it.

[Lacquer Peel]

Those shitey blow torches are

great, mine has helped me out loads of times.

[fordperv]

I remember a video someone posted on here and while back showing the removal of ready to snap bleed nipples by inserting a suitable size piece of snug fitting drill bit down the centre of the nipple stopping it from folding in on its self meaning it can't twist and snap, not had anything to try this one yet, if you do try this I'd have new nipples on stand by

[The Moog]

Try the drill bit in the nipple trick. So far it has worked for me and hasnt sheared anything off. Of course be gentle about it all. 

[Bren]

To be fair I got them undone but had to replace them - they were'nt seized but pressure saw the hex start to crumble - I started with a 9mm spanner and ended up using an 8mm spanner.

[twosmoke300]

At least they undid 😄 what a pain little bits like that are to get hold of too