Spent yesterday afternoon replacing the handbrake pads for MOT at 12.30 today.
Whilst doing so I never noticed that one front [footbrake] pad was almost down to the metal.

It passed its MOT but the tester pointed out the offending brake pad so I replaced all four pads this afternoon .... [strangely .....there was only one which was worn down .... ]

Also the tester pointed out a little bit of play in the track rod end ball thingy ......so stripped that out to check for wear,none apparent so greased it all again and put it all back together.
Also spent half-hour making a tool to remove the castellated nut holding the "track-rod end ball thingy" in.

I only managed to spear just two of my fingers this time with the screwdriver whilst prising back the brake pad springs and I only cut my hand once on "something sharp" [ ] in the depths of the engine bay ......so all in all "A good day" .....I'm a happy bunny now.

best regards
T.

Fresh MOTees are always.......
a) satisfying
b) a delight
c) kick in the arse less
d) another year to drive

(There are more possibilities possible)

Driving of with fresh MOT frees your mind.. (My bx sport 1985 also passed MOT today( I know what you are feeling right now..... )

Noticed my car is definately not as quick as it was, and doesn't tick over very well. Hoping it's a tight tappet and not a loss of compression somewhere else, as the rings are only a few thousand miles old.

Day off for yet more hosiptal visits - before going took Dremel to the anoying rust spots on the car - luckily just surface rust..

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terry,if one pad is wearing much more than the other one piston might be seized(they do seize, my bro has about 10 old calipers , with the pistons stuck solid)
the piston that works will push the disk out of alighnment,when u brake-this could be disasterous if the disc snapped off also the brakes will be poor

the trackrod end musn,t be tighned without following a procedure

Is a siezed piston due to lack of use??

i don,t really know james, i do know they seize solid though and its near imposs to get the bugg ers out!

seized calipers

Hi ayjay .....the piston prised back easily enough when I removed the old pad so maybe fair to assume that the piston aint seized .....btw,the brakes on my 2CV are excellent [as I found as recently as the ICCCR @ Harrogate .....whilst waving to another 2CV I was caught out by the car in front of me braking my fault I know but it did surprise me how quickly my car actually stopped .]
I'll take the new pad out over the weekend and check again [with the old pad in situ.] that the piston aint seized.....[unless anyone can tell me an easier way without removing the whole caliper].

re the "track rod ball thingy" .......I looked to see if the ball was worn oval in any way and it was'nt...... I really ought to have tightened it up first to see how much play there was in it,but unthinkingly I removed it to take a look before greasing it and putting it back together.
I've been out in the car this morning [about a 20mile round trip] ......and all seemed well with it.



Hi james .....I doubt if it is "lack of use" ......my 2CV has covered a good few miles this summer.

best regards
Terry

I took all the seats out (except for the driver's seat, obviously) and loaded half a greenhouse into it in preparation for a trip to Yorkshire to deliver it to my brother after work tomorrow morning. Look out for me on the M1 ...