New rear wheel cylinders are about $45 ea
New rear shoes about $25
Stainless steel braided replacement brake hoses, $45 for all three.
O-rings inside the brake distribution block, less than a buck.
This guy must have a very high labor rate, total job should take less than 3
hours for a pro, probably a full weekend for a do-it yourself.
Do one rear brake at a time, so that you can look at the other one to
reassemble.
The clip that holds on the rear wheel cylinder is a Bi#ch, throw the one
that comes with the new cylinder away and use a circlip available at a
hardware store instead along with a thin washer as a shim to hold the
cylinder firmly to the backing plate. This will make sense once you see it.
You can pull the brake warning switch and put a bolt in its place to stop
that leak, add brake fluid, bleed rear brakes, and drive home safely. The
mechanic can have you sign a release that basically absolves him of any
liability if you crash & burn.
Use Castrol Dot 4 brake fluid. Same properties as Dot 3 with higher boiling
point, and more friendly to rubber seals.
You don't need mitivacs, etc to bleed brakes. Start at farthest, have
someone pump pedal, hold, open bleeder, release, repeat, checking fluid
level often.
David Riker
davriker@pacbell.net
http://home.pacbell.net/davriker/
http://community.webshots.com/user/fool4mg
----- Original Message -----
From "Steven Michelsen" <stevenm at optonline.net>
To: "Midget Group at team.net" <spridgets@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, May 27, 2005 5:35 AM
Subject: brake project ahead
> Upon pushing my '78 Midget out of the garage this spring, I discovered (A)
> a pool of brake fluid where the front-left corner of the car stood, (B) an
> empty brake fluid cup, and (C) only about 20% brake capacity. Being the
> sensible soul that I am, I filled up the cup and proceeded to drive it
> about 6 miles via back roads to my friendly neighborhood Brit-car repair
> shop for an assessment. They determined that I needed a new switch
> assembly (the cause of the puddle), new hoses all around, and new or
> rebuilt rear brake cylinders (the seals are apparently going). AND while
> they were in there, they would re-do the rear axle seals. All this for a
> mere $1100. The calipers seem to be OK.
>
> I have never done brake work before, but this seems my golden opportunity.
> My plan is to flatbed the midget home (the garage owner tells me his
> lawyer insists), and stock up on a bunch of parts from Moss.
>
> Replacing the parts seems a straightforward bolt-up project, however,
> simply because I've never had to do it, "brake fluid handling" has always
> been a bit of a mystery. Can someone recommend one of the bleeding
> gadgets, like the Mity-Vac or Moss's "Eezibleed"? Any other general
> brake-project tips, or tools to consider? I am using Dot-3 and don't plan
> to change at this point.
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