Rear brakes

[nick]

Found the rear brakes not working on the yellow car. After disassembly I found one cylinder completely corroded and not working. The other had one of the two pistons working but leaking.

I found replacement ones on Ebay by Centric. They are the cheapest. Next in price are Beck Arnley. Victoria British has them but I don't know the brand.

On this item price is second to quality. Can anyone recommend which supplier to use?

Second question. The leaking cylinder soaked the brake shoes. Can these be cleaned or do they have to be replaced?


[img][IMG]http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt234/nickmi/TR7%201975/Yellow.jpg[/img]
nick
'79 TR7 DHC
'76 TR7 FHC

[RJS]

I don't remember the price, but I purchased mine from Woody's.

I also had a brake shoe that had been leaked on. I don't know if it was necessary, but I replaced them. I rebuilt the front calipers at the same time, and I have to say it is MUCH better than before.

Clay's pictures / instructions were invaluable for the process.

Good luck,
Rob

[FI Spyder]

I've heard of people putting gas on them and burning out the brake fluid but I don't think I'd recommend it. Shoes aren't that expensive, I'd replace them.

Not sure about cylinders but I rebuild mine with TRW kits from British parts Northwest, just a little more money than Brand X. They sell complete cylinders made in Italy by AP Braking (I would suspect a quality product).



- - -TR7 Spider - - - 1978 Spitfire- - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT

[elsberry]

Nick,

The only difference between Centric and Beck Arnley is who manufactures them. Most likely the Beck Arnley ones were made in the UK because typically (but not always) their parts are just rebadged OEM parts.

The cylinders are available on Rock Auto for $12.79 each, and they have sets of brake shoes between $5-10. Can't beat that.

<b>Dave Elsberry</b>
<b>Secretary & Editor Triumph Wedge Owners Association</b>
http://www.triumphwedgeowners.org

[elsberry]

Clay's photos should be bronzed, except that would screw up the pictures. That photo set is most likely the best set of instructions ever made for doing the rear brakes. There's not a chance in the world I would have ever gotten mine back together without those pictures. Had the laptop on the floor with me when I put them back on the car. I'd have a mess of parts and a shoddy OEM manual still trying to get them together otherwise. You know, I couldn't swear to you, but I think that they may have been put on the car incorrectly to begin with at some time in their lives.

Woody does have the shoes and cylinders listed, but the wheel cylinders are $23 each, and shoes are $33.


<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by RJS</i>

I don't remember the price, but I purchased mine from Woody's.

I also had a brake shoe that had been leaked on. I don't know if it was necessary, but I replaced them. I rebuilt the front calipers at the same time, and I have to say it is MUCH better than before.

Clay's pictures / instructions were invaluable for the process.

Good luck,
Rob
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

<b>Dave Elsberry</b>
<b>Secretary & Editor Triumph Wedge Owners Association</b>
http://www.triumphwedgeowners.org

[windy one]

I have yet to install a (new) bad cylinder on any of my wedges (done maybe 8-10 rear brake jobs on my wedges), regardless of the manufacturer. Beck-A was the last brand I used with no faults. I cannot remember, but I either got my replacement brake parts from either Woody or Vic Brit.
And, Replace the shoes. Its not that expensive, and calming piece of mind to know everthing is new and fresh.

Johnny

[Workshop Help]

As Mr Elsberry mentioned, visit the Rockauto.com website for the parts required. They have closeout deals on items that make TR7 ownership affordable and the parts will NOT be the Asian County brand.

Mildred Hargis

[nick]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by elsberry</i>

Nick,

The only difference between Centric and Beck Arnley is who manufactures them. Most likely the Beck Arnley ones were made in the UK because typically (but not always) their parts are just rebadged OEM parts.

The cylinders are available on Rock Auto for $12.79 each, and they have sets of brake shoes between $5-10. Can't beat that.

<b>Dave Elsberry</b>
<b>Secretary & Editor Triumph Wedge Owners Association</b>
http://www.triumphwedgeowners.org
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Thanks for the tip Dave. I notice that 4 and 5 speed gearboxes have different part numbers. Are they interchangeable? I have one of each car but need a set for the '76 4 speed.

[img][IMG]http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt234/nickmi/TR7%201975/Yellow.jpg[/img]
nick
'79 TR7 DHC
'76 TR7 FHC

[Workshop Help]

They are different. The four speed brake cylinders have a larger bore and are a popular substitution on the five speed cars.

Once you have replaced the cylinders with new items, save your old ones and send them off to Apple Hydraulics or White Post Restorations to be sleeved with brass. The next time you do a rear cylinder brake job, the brass lined cylinders will outlast the next owner of the car.

Finally, use ONLY a DOT 4 brake fluid.

Mildred Hargis

[nick]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Mildred</i>

They are different. The four speed brake cylinders have a larger bore and are a popular substitution on the five speed cars.

Once you have replaced the cylinders with new items, save your old ones and send them off to Apple Hydraulics or White Post Restorations to be sleeved with brass. The next time you do a rear cylinder brake job, the brass lined cylinders will outlast the next owner of the car.

Finally, use ONLY a DOT 4 brake fluid.

Mildred Hargis
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Thanks for that information. The pistons were so corroded I had to use a good size persuader to brake them lose.

[img][IMG]http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt234/nickmi/TR7%201975/Yellow.jpg[/img]
nick
'79 TR7 DHC
'76 TR7 FHC

[silverseven]

In my case , the corner autoparts store had the rearbrake cylinders and pads at the depot in Montreal. I had them on my car the next day.
In my 14 years of ownership I've replaced both of the rear cylinders twice, and scrapped one set of pads. The first time (about 10 years ago) I replace only one cyl, and simply cleaned up the shoe and drums with brake-cleaner and once dry gave them a good scuff with some rough sandpaper.
The second time a cylinder popped was two years ago, I splurged for new pads this time, machined the drums and replaced both cylinders as they were very in-expensive (and heck it's cheap insurance, right?)

Ron.

[nick]

I've ordered the larger bore 5 speed rear wheel brake cylinders for my '76 4 speed TR7. I started to order the brake shoes but found that there are different part numbers there as well.

So can I install the 5 speed cylinders without modification? And which shoes should I use?

[img][IMG]http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt234/nickmi/TR7%201975/Yellow.jpg[/img]
nick
'79 TR7 DHC
'76 TR7 FHC

[Workshop Help]

Nick, the larger bore cylinders are for the four,-4-, speed cars. The five,-5-, speed cars have a smaller bore. Which one did you actually order for your yellow four,-4-, speed coupe?

The brake shoes are also different. The five,-5-, speed cars have a 9" drum while the four,-4-, speed cars have an 8" drum.

I suggest you use only the original specified parts on your brakes.

Mildred Hargis

[dursleyman]

Nick, Mildred is right you need to use the 4 speed cylinders on your 4 speed axle. Those 5 speed cylinders are SMALLER bore and will give you LESS rear braking. Probably not a good place to be.

Also the roll pins that locate them are in a different position so you will have to re-drill your back plates and you get worse brakes.

I suspect that is not what you want?

Russ

1980 TR7 Sprint DHC
Dursley
UK

http://tr7russ.blogspot.co.uk/

[nick]

So it looks like 4speed and AT are one size and the 5 speed and AT are another size. The below listing shows all AT as one size. Probably wrong. In any case I ordered the wrong part. I also read incorrectly Mildred's post that said the 4 speed bores are the large ones. Oh well. If that's the dumbest thing I ever do I'll be OK.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CENTRIC-134-300 ... es&vxp=mtr

[img][IMG]http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt234/nickmi/TR7%201975/Yellow.jpg[/img]
nick
'79 TR7 DHC
'76 TR7 FHC