New Rear Caliper? - (Failed mot!)

Hello,
My 1968 Three Thousand Five has just failed its mot due to a leaky rear, nearside caliper! (probably due to lack of use as seal kits were fitted about 7 years ago).
I am no longer in a position to replace this myself and so am at the mercy of my local garage an mot station who are prepared to replace the caliper but not overhaul it using a seal kit. Any advice please? Where is the best (only?) place to obtain an overhauled caliper? Urgent response requested.
Many thanks, John.
 
Hi John,

I would phone LSUK they will more than definatley do it but charge appropriatley.

I have used them for kits and other brake parts in the past and even when they can't supply the kit for you they can have the item rebuilt, this requires the unit to be removed first though.

I have had problems with leaky rears before and reckon if you were to take the piston out clean it and put back together it would be out for the mot.

Another option is if the fluid is filling the dust cover and is sweeping past the rubber seal then you could undo the cover ( being careful of escaping fluid) clean it and put it back one. if you aren't able to rebuild the calliper you'd probably still manage to do this in situ, as the nearside one is easier to get to and it is only a case of 2 bolts.

Obviously a refurb is best but if your MOT is short then the above may give you breathing space.

If it is only the taking the unit off the car that you would find difficult I could send you a spare calliper which you could rebuild yourself or hand it in for rebuilding.

I always prefer to do these jobs myself unless the person/garage a more familliar than I am with the car/job. one time I went to pick the car up after an MOT and the guy said he couldn't test the car because it conked out and wouldn't start. when I jumped in started her up the guy came over and asked how I did it, the car was cold and all I did was pull the choke out...


Colin
 
Hello Colin,
Thanks for prompt reply. I am reviewing all my options today/this weekend and making decision/purchase etc. on Monday when I can re-visit my local garage. Who are LSUK? Don't know them.
Car is not used everyday, I have other transport, so I can wait for re-furb caliper.
Cannot work on car myself (previous house had large garage with pit but this new house has tiny garage and no pit also my age and eyesight are against me now!) but could overhaul a caliper and supply to garage for fitting. Not sure whether to buy seal kits and obtain secondhand caliper (from a good person such as yourself) or buy recon from supplier like J R Wadhams at 4 times cost of seal kit. I have heard that some people have had problems with seal kits and mot garage, who run old cars and have worked on P6s in the past, advise against them. I hope to get more advice to weigh up before I make my decision so may well come back to you for help.
Many thanks and keep in touch.
Regards, John.
 
Hi John,

LSUK are/were Lucas girling. The have branches all over the country. I got a set of front discs for the 2200tc form them for less than wadhams and my local factors.

The do all the brakes and electrical bits for a car. I have used them for tons of stuff, I got a set of 4 headlamps for £36 inc the vat.

I am not 100% sure but I think if you sent your calliper to Wadhams they would send it to Lucas/LSUK who'd rebuild it. The best bit is that they give you a trade price as you can see from the headlamp pirce.

I have used the seal kits on all callipers, master cylinder, servo, clutch master and the only failure was 1 rear but that was 2 years after I had rebuilt it and had moved less than 100 meters because i was restoring the rest of the car. also was not a genuine girling kit.

I think that the quailty of the kit and skill is important.

Maybe Mr Wilson might have a New old stock calliper lying around.

Probably best to get them both off and checked or refurbed as it is not a job you want to do twice or three times.

Colin
 
Hi John,

http://www.lsuk.co.uk/

There is a branch locator link on this site.

I see wadhams is £70 plus vat and delivery for each one probably end up about £100 each.

I would speak to LSUK and see what they can do for you.


colin
 
Hi John, I recommend getting stainless liners put in as well if you are going for an overhaul!!! They'll last many times longer.

Good luck
-Kyle-
 
Hello again Colin,
Many thanks, I see that there is a branch in Cardiff so I will visit them tomorrow to see what they can do.

Kyle, thanks for response and a good point - I don't think that I would be happy with a seal kit in my old caliper and a recon' item with stainless insert sounds perfect to me. I think I have a local contact to check out (and LSUK) prior to Wadhams!
Thanks to you both. Will advise outcome.
Regards, John.
 
Well Chaps,
The price from Wadhams is now £90 + vat + £75 exchange + delivery (and need to know ehich type of caliper I have fitted as there are early and late types and they could be changed i.e. non-original ones fitted) so the seal kits are looking good!
My local LSUK after several hours of research told me that only brake DRUMS listed for my model!
Doesn't exactly inspire confidence in getting the right parts!
Can anybody tell me the Girling part number(s) for the seal kits and do we know if Wadhams sell genuine Girling kits?
Regards, John.
 
Hi John,

Wadhams is as expected. The seal kit I got for the sevos and master cylinders were genuine.

Another option may be ford. the zepher/zodic used the same girling rear brakes, possibly may get a listing from ford or check the classic car magazines for classic ford suppliers.

as for LSUK you don't always get a clued up person behind the desk, it is best to look over their shoulder at the catalogues. The person has obviously given you an sd1 listing which could mean they don't have alisting in the catalogue. try them again and ask what they list for 2000 or 2200 and also the fords. I can't remember the production years of the fords.

the 2200 part number for the calliper is 605488 ® AND 605489 (L) Rover part number for the kit is 601953. The only difference i have seen is the pivot pin later ones have the blanking cap and allen key whilst early ones have a normal looking bolt. check the v8 number against the 4 cylinder ones to double check that they are the same but I think you will find they are. does james taylors book mention calliper upgrades? the later type would probably be ok for earlier cars

Parts for older cars who advertise in practical classic, they do kits for everything and are knowledgeable, they don't do genuine kits but the may have a note of the girling kit number which you can coax it out of them.

Good luck john

Colin
 
Colin,
thanks (again) for your comprehensive reply. I have ordered a seal kit from Wadhams tonight. I can't justify (or even afford) the recon caliper price and have replaced these seals in the past (turns out to be 10 years ago, checking records for the car) on the offside (I think) and, as you say, the nearside is easier. My son has offered to help me (the mot garage confirmed that they would not fit a seal kit only a recon caliper) so my choice is overhaul another s/h caliper and give it, with my car, to the mot garage for replacement (and they have me over a barrel during the process) or refurb my own caliper with a kit and then call by the mot garage for my new certificate! No contest really. Will write follow up when job completed.
Regards, John.
 
Hi John,

It is good to hear that you are sorted, you will be happier doing it yourself in the end.

I would rebuild a pair and get them both fitted. also Lsuk do the flexi hoses for about £7 but the short one is obsolete in their catalogue. If the brakes are coming off then you may aswell get new hoses.

I don't suppose your garage will charge that much extra to do everything now opposed to having them done in the future.

If you can't get spare callipers locally then let me know as I have a few sets including one set with the different piviot pins

Colin
 
Hello again Colin (et al),
I have received my seal kit from Wadhams (probably not genuine as in a plain plastic bag with no labels) and had decided to overhaul the existing caliper myself and just take the car back for its mot. My son has volunteered to help me and I have this morning jacked and blocked the car and realised that the de-dion tube drops at the back and the suspension swinging arms drop at the sides so what is an easy(ish) job in a pit becomes impossible on flat ground!
Looks as tho' I will have to obtain another caliper, fit new seals to it and hand it in to my local garage after all.
Colin, the V8 part numbers are the same as those you mentioned and my Rover workshop manual supplement for the Three Thousand Five doesn't mention anything about 2 types of fixing so I am assuming that I have the later type (I definitely have the allen key type of bolt!)
If you have a left hand (nearside) caliper in good nick (just needing seals) I would be grateful if you let me know. I will talk to a couple of local owners over the weekend in case anyone can help but I don't hold out much hope.
Regards, John.
 
Hello again,
It is now three weeks since my car failed its mot and I'm still no nearer having it fixed, except that I have a seal kit - Now I just need a good complete caliper that I can fit the seal kit in.
If you can help me out of this fix, please call me urgently.
Thanks in anticipation.
John.
 
Hi John,

When you bought the seal kit did you get a new piston?

Probably worthwhile in the long run.

Have sent you an email regarding the calliper.

Colin
 
my car is sitting up on ramps waiting a refurb nearside rear caliper from Ray Weekly. I noticed the fluid loss a while back and got a seal kit, it slowed the leak a bit but the brake effiecency was way down, so I'm waiting on a fully rebuilt caliper. They are such a pain to change I was not going to try another kit.
It failed the MOT and when the rear is jacked up with the brakes fully applied you can just move the nearside wheel - the offside is solid as a rock... also brake testing on the road (heavy braking) (empty quiet & straight road) pulling to the left - hence why I'm going for a refurb unit - new piston with sleeved bore etc...

ah the joys!

???
 
Hello scauto,
You're telling me! Think I'll start saving now to have 2 recon calipers fitted in the near future - This seal kit should get me thro' the mot for another year or two!
Regards, John.
 
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