Brake overhaul booklet

[roy4matra]

I have updated the brake overhaul booklet very slightly, and it now contains the comparison sketch to show the important difference between the front and rear pads.  Some images have been changed which should make the page display faster too.  It is available as before from my website FAQ 3rd page.

Roy

[krede]

Cheers. I seem to have lost this Booket, but could use it in the foreseeable future. However the link is not working any more. Does anybody have it?

[roy4matra]

Cheers. I seem to have lost this Booket, but could use it in the foreseeable future. However the link is not working any more. Does anybody have it?

You need to make sure you are not using an old cached page and link.

If you are using an old link - no it won't work.  I changed ISP's recently if you remember, as I notified everyone here that my site and email was down for a week or so.  However, it definitely is working as I have just downloaded a copy myself... but you must go in to the FAQ third page and click on the either link on that page.

I am in the process of updating the booklet further to give a better overview of the front brakes; and to include the brake master cylinder, now we can get seals for the master cylinder from Simon.  Keep a look out.  I will announce it here too.

Roy

[krede]

Great!

[Jon Weywadt]

---- and to include the brake master cylinder, now we can get seals for the master cylinder from Simon.  Keep a look out.  I will announce it here too.

Roy

I overhauled the master cylinder this fall, and I made a post with photos.

http://www.matrasport.dk/forum/index.php/topic,2023.0.html

A particularly valuable piece of info is, that there is a perpendicular hole in the cotter pins, which allows you to pull out the pins with relative ease. I hope you include that in the booklet.

Also place close attention to which way the seals are mounted on the pistons before removing them (take a picture as reminder)

With a little care, you do not lose very much brake fluid in the lines from the master cylinder (bend them slightly upward before unscrewing) Then after reassembly and filling the reservoir, you can take off a wheel from each brake circuit and press in the caliper piston. That pushes enough fluid back into the reservoir, to clear out any bubbles in the top of the lines. Result, rock hard brake pedal.

That said, honing the master cylinder and replacing the seals is a relative easy afternoon job.

[roy4matra]

I overhauled the master cylinder this fall, and I made a post with photos.

http://www.matrasport.dk/forum/index.php/topic,2023.0.html

A particularly valuable piece of info is, that there is a perpendicular hole in the cotter pins, which allows you to pull out the pins with relative ease. I hope you include that in the booklet.

Yes I have thanks.  I have overhauled one myself so I spotted these.

Also place close attention to which way the seals are mounted on the pistons before removing them (take a picture as reminder)

Quite right and just what I do too.

Roy

[krede]

Any news on the booklet?

[roy4matra]

Any news on the booklet?

O.K. it is now available.  If you are in the FAQ third page there is a link to download the manual.  Otherwise you can use: http://web.me.com/roy4matra/Matra_Enthusiasts/pdf/Brakes.pdf to go to it directly.  If you find any errors please let me know as I can then correct them.  Thanks.

Roy

[krede]

Thanks mate!.....a great help..... now if only I could get my printer to work ...

[Jon Weywadt]

O.K. it is now available. 

Roy

Thanks Roy.

The new booklet is super and I'm glad to see the inclusion of the master brake cylinder overhaul. Wish I had had that last fall, when I overhauled mine 
It gave a few grey hairs until I discovered the holes in the cotter pins, which allow them to be removed with ease.

Perhaps you could mention that the kit from Simon includes a small bag of grease (silicon I think). When applied to the new seals and the metal on the piston, it allows easy installation and reduce the risk of scratching or tearing the seals.

[Oetker]

Very nice tutorial Roy.
The old one helped me a lot in my brake overhaul, and now it is even more complete describing the piston settings and the master cylinder.
I have only one remark.
In the tutorial is stated that you can use the baggy caliper, and that is true, but not in all cases it is a direct fit.
Is there more then one type of baggy caliper?
A fellow member did try to use one in a Murena but the handbrake lever is not equal, it has a different angle.
He had to use the lever from the murena.
See the pic and notice the different angle.
The rusted one is ofcourse from the baggy.

pic Urbain.

[roy4matra]

Very nice tutorial Roy.
The old one helped me a lot in my brake overhaul, and now it is even more complete describing the piston settings and the master cylinder.
I have only one remark.
In the tutorial is stated that you can use the baggy caliper, and that is true, but not in all cases it is a direct fit.
Is there more then one type of baggy caliper?
A fellow member did try to use one in a Murena but the handbrake lever is not equal, it has a different angle.
He had to use the lever from the murena.

You are quite correct, and thanks for reminding me.  I am so used to overhauling these things now, I can easily forget things like this even though I know them.  In fact you can use the calipers from the rear of an Alpine A110S 1600 as long as again you change the hand brake levers...

I will update the book to include that, thanks again Oetker.

Oh, and to answer another question - it is locked against copying and printing I'm afraid.  It is meant for personal use, but I found even the Lotus club were displaying the old one on their website without asking my permission (yes that's another car that also uses this caliper) so I have locked it this time.  Sorry.

Roy

[suffolkpete]

While you're about it Roy, could you include a source and/or part numbers for the rubbers that seal the reservoir to the cylinder.  I think it's unfortunate that the kit doesn't include these as it's always a good idea to replace them.  I had a kit for a Princess "wedge" , which has a similar cylinder, and that not only included the rubbers but new roll pins as well.

[roy4matra]

While you're about it Roy, could you include a source and/or part numbers for the rubbers that seal the reservoir to the cylinder.  I think it's unfortunate that the kit doesn't include these as it's always a good idea to replace them...

Well Simon does sell these seals too, but at over 8 Euros each they are far too expensive.  They are so common that they should be much cheaper (and included in the kit) but the odd occasion I have needed them, I have bought them from Renault where they are half the price (how often can you say that!).  However, I'm trying to source them directly from a company in the U.K. so they may be slightly cheaper again, and I will include that part number if I get them.  In the meantime I have included the old Talbot number which may help.

The manual has been updated very slightly now with various suggestions on this forum.  Thanks also to Anders for proof-reading the booklet.

Roy

[RazorbackNOR]

Very useful booklet Roy.

Now that you have included the master cylinder, have you considered including the brake booster in it too....?