Royale Coupe - Brakes fixed!

[Royale80]

Still "practising" my welding-did have a go on the hole but I think Stevie wonder would have done better. Will get my mate up to make sure the MIG is set up correctly and give it another go-failing that will get him to weld it. MOT up and now sorned.

 

Steve

 

[Royale80]

The hole

 

[Tadhg Tiogar]

The hole

 

What are the corroded bits inside/beyond the hole?

[Mally]

What are the corroded bits inside/beyond the hole?

 

Invisible.

When the hole is covered.

 

Looks a straightforward job really.

[Royale80]

What are the corroded bits inside/beyond the hole?

 

Just surface rust. I've cleaned as much as I can. The suspension arms have been rubbed down, Vactanned , epoxy primered and painted in thick black gloss.

 

Steve

[Royale80]

Drained the petrol tank yesterday as there is a drip coming from the bottom of it. Petrol gauge is dodgy so thought there were about 10 litres in it-turned out to be nearer 30. Cleaned the pinhole and surrounding area up and used some tank seal epoxy putty on it. See if it has worked today. Still need to do the welding and a bit more I have found.

 

Senator is carrying out this winters duties.

 

Steve

[Royale80]

Did a bit of work on the Royale today aided by Chester the dog. Still haven't got around to welding it yet (over a year!)-but when moving it this morning one of the rear calipers was sticking, so stripped it down and gave it a clean. You can see the hole still present and my helper. The bluey stuff is Vactan.

[Royale80]

As i had done a bit of work on the Senator-I thought it only fair to do a bit on the Royale. This has been off the road for a year waiting for me to weld two patches. Had a problem with the brakes a few months ago-car was up on ramps for a few months-went to move it and brake pedal went to the floor. Reservoir was empty. No visible leaks so topped it up-suspect leaking master cylinder. Started it today-always fires up immediately-and brakes working as normal. Took it for a spin up the private lane and remembered how much more powerful and quicker it is than the Senator.

Going to practice my welding tomorrow-need to get it back on the road.

Here's some pictures from this morning.

And one of the holes.

 

Steve

[xtriple]

Yo have a 'Chester' as well. Pains in the arse aren't they  

[Royale80]

They are!  He's always in the water or mud!

 

[Royale80]

He loves lying in cars-here he is taking it easy in my Range Rover.

[Royale80]

With the forthcoming free tax on the horizon-I thought I'd fix the sticky rear caliper - .

Got the caliper off-had to cut brake pipe as union would not come undone. Pressed pistons out as far as they would go on the car before cutting. One piston came out using compressed air-cleaned it up, greased and new seal-but the other refuses to shift. Looks like I'll have to put back on car (when my brake flaring tool and connectors come) and try pushing it out using brake pressure.

Bloody cars.

Managed to get the union off by hammering a socket over it-it was quite tight!

 

 

Before I popped the  RH piston out. Could do with a good clean up.

Problem is the rear calipers for a Royale are like unicorn poo.

 

[Royale80]

Spurred on by Skizzers latest purchase, I pushed on with the brakes. I am replacing the seals in the rear caliper that has been a bit sticky.A couple of months ago I started and managed to get one piston out-the other would not budge-tried my compressor - but no luck. Bough a brake flaring kit a month ago and used it today. Linked up a long length of copper and used the hydraulic pressure in the brakes to pop the piston out. it was a bit mucky-but cleaned up ok. Now back together!

 

Car is now MOT and TAX exempt-but will not be going to post office for a while to change it over. Waiting for some MIG wire to come and will have a pop at the two holes.

[Royale80]

Still spurred on by Skizzer, I moved the Royale from the garage to carport-furthest its moved in 3 months. Gave it a wash. Next job is to bleed all the brakes tomorrow, then attack some of the rust-surface thankfully. 

[Skizzer]

Very happy to have helped! I’m almost certainly more helpful under social distancing than when actually present.

Your tailgate fits better than mine. I assume there’s a bit of adjustment on the hinges: mine needs some.

[Royale80]

Thanks Skizz. I’ll have a look to see if any adjustment. I’ll also have to get around to changing the drivers door. It came with a spare as the original is dented. Been out yet Skizz?

[Skizzer]

49 minutes ago, Stevebrookman said:

Been out yet Skizz?

Very briefly... will update later.  Like.

[andy18s]

Very nice,I had one the same colours inside and out but a year older

AMM222T

I must try find my photos of it whilst not too busy

[Split_Pin]

I'm really enjoying the big old GM action on here lately. Great work on this through the years and nice one for not restoring it as such, it looks way better as you have it.

I got this almost identical 1/24 scale model at Billing Vauxhall show 10 years ago.

[Royale80]

Bleeding the brakes went well?. Two ok, one snapped and one a bit dodgy so left it. Brakes still shit.

Steve

[Royale80]

Update-managed to get the bleed nipples out from the front two calipers-Normfest Supercrack helped! Bled brakes -seemed a lot better up and down the lane. Taxed (free!!!!!!) and insured it last week but only today had a chance to take it for a spin-first time in two years!  Brakes still a little spongy-will replace all pads and another bleed-I still have one rear bleed nipple kaput-if no better the master cylinder and rear caliper will be off to past parts for reconditioning. Here it is moved to car port in preparation for brake pad changing.

 

 

[Royale80]

More work on the Royales brakes on Friday. Looked at the front ones and pads not wearing evenly. Looked like a piston was sticking. Royale has twin pistons on front. Moved them in and out a few times and cleaned up using lots of brake cleaner. Swapped pads around so more worn pad was on the previous sticky side. Repeated on the other side. Took for a spin for 20 mins and brakes much better. Slight sticky drivers rear-the only one I haven't touched-will do this next.

 

More progress today. Right rear brakes cleaned up, pistons pushed back and forth and new pads. Seemed to have fixed the issue. Brakes now quite good.

One other problem I need to fix is the petrol pump. It's been noisy but quietened down. On my "spirited" drive for 30 mins (it's rapid!)-all was ok until I went right around a big roundabout-the pump became noisier and there wasn't much power. Thought I'd need a tow-it cleared and back to normal thankfully. Noisy on RH bends though. There's only a couple of gallons in there and I don't know if the tank is a proper injection one with a swirl pot.

Next job is to put the new pump and a new filter and lots more petrol. Also need a temperature sensor. Onwards and upwards!!!!

 

[Royale80]

Remember a leak on a pipe from the tank about 4 years ago. It went nowhere-just cut off and hanging above the tank. So it seems this may be a carb tank and not an injection. best keep it fairly full

 

[cbowditch]

Loving this Royale. I'm glad it still lives on and you got the brakes fixed 👍