[align=left]In between visits from my children and grandgaughter, I chose today to fill up with fluids, the Stag that is.
Yesterday's oil fill posed no problems, no external leaks anyway, I wouldn't have expected any without engine pressure.
Today the coolent went in, aiming for 30% anti-freeze/corrosion inhibitor as seems to be the accepted norm on this forum. All seemed well, except it took what seemed to be a rather large amount of fluid to fill to the brim. Again on first inspection no leaks, great, next job.[/align][align=left] Dot5 into the braking and cluch reservoirs.
This when all hell brakes loose. I'm sure I checked all the unions in the system but obviously I missed one and all the brake nipples!Talk about self bleeding,fluid at all corners and out of a rear axle to flexible hose joint. At least the solution was simple and quick nip with a spanner fixed the leaks, moping up the pools and kicking myself at the loss of such expensive fuild took a little longer.[/align][align=left]I've still got the car's rear wheels on ramps for underside access reasons, but had the front wheels on the ground. When it came to bleeding the disc brakes at the front it became obvious that it would be easier with the wheels off.[/align][align=left] Now jacking the front of the car and removing the wheels brought the car to a level, this is when all hell broke loose again, coolent which had accumulated, from somewhere, in the vee now found a path to ground level. Crap, more moping up and the realisaton that this might not be such and easy fix, where had the water come from, pump or inlet manifold?
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Still, the dripping eventually stopped and I was able to complete bleeding the brakes, clear bubble free fluid flowing from the nipples. My Son was kind enough to provide the pedal pushing, unfortunately his feed back on the pedal resistance, as one by one the nipples are bled and sealed off, wasn't that positive, "there dosen't seem to be much difference" if he's correct then I have yet another problem, a by-passing master cylinder? Oh yes and I did notice a slight leak from a disc caliper which I havent confirmed yet.[/align][align=left] On to the next, clutch fluid, a simple little circuit, easy? Nope. Again with my Son pumping at the pedals, eventually for all he's worth, we eventually bled the system but achieved little or no movement at the slave cylinder. Another master or slave cylinder failure.
On initial strip down I took a chance on just renewing the cylinder seals, false economy as it seems to be turning out. It's going to be a great job getting at those foot pedal vulcrum pins.
Dare I attempt the power steering fluid? I renewed those seals as well!
[/align][align=left]Not today![/align][align=left] I have now closed the garage door and walked away, hopefully I might return in a day or two when my temper and frustration has lessened.[/align][align=left] Meanwhile I'm going to get back to what I should have been doing today and fill up with fluids, me that is, and enjoy whats left of fathers day![/align][align=left]I hope you have.[/align][align=left] John4D
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Yesterday's oil fill posed no problems, no external leaks anyway, I wouldn't have expected any without engine pressure.
Today the coolent went in, aiming for 30% anti-freeze/corrosion inhibitor as seems to be the accepted norm on this forum. All seemed well, except it took what seemed to be a rather large amount of fluid to fill to the brim. Again on first inspection no leaks, great, next job.[/align][align=left] Dot5 into the braking and cluch reservoirs.
This when all hell brakes loose. I'm sure I checked all the unions in the system but obviously I missed one and all the brake nipples!Talk about self bleeding,fluid at all corners and out of a rear axle to flexible hose joint. At least the solution was simple and quick nip with a spanner fixed the leaks, moping up the pools and kicking myself at the loss of such expensive fuild took a little longer.[/align][align=left]I've still got the car's rear wheels on ramps for underside access reasons, but had the front wheels on the ground. When it came to bleeding the disc brakes at the front it became obvious that it would be easier with the wheels off.[/align][align=left] Now jacking the front of the car and removing the wheels brought the car to a level, this is when all hell broke loose again, coolent which had accumulated, from somewhere, in the vee now found a path to ground level. Crap, more moping up and the realisaton that this might not be such and easy fix, where had the water come from, pump or inlet manifold?
[/align][align=left]
Still, the dripping eventually stopped and I was able to complete bleeding the brakes, clear bubble free fluid flowing from the nipples. My Son was kind enough to provide the pedal pushing, unfortunately his feed back on the pedal resistance, as one by one the nipples are bled and sealed off, wasn't that positive, "there dosen't seem to be much difference" if he's correct then I have yet another problem, a by-passing master cylinder? Oh yes and I did notice a slight leak from a disc caliper which I havent confirmed yet.[/align][align=left] On to the next, clutch fluid, a simple little circuit, easy? Nope. Again with my Son pumping at the pedals, eventually for all he's worth, we eventually bled the system but achieved little or no movement at the slave cylinder. Another master or slave cylinder failure.
On initial strip down I took a chance on just renewing the cylinder seals, false economy as it seems to be turning out. It's going to be a great job getting at those foot pedal vulcrum pins.
Dare I attempt the power steering fluid? I renewed those seals as well!
[/align][align=left]Not today![/align][align=left] I have now closed the garage door and walked away, hopefully I might return in a day or two when my temper and frustration has lessened.[/align][align=left] Meanwhile I'm going to get back to what I should have been doing today and fill up with fluids, me that is, and enjoy whats left of fathers day![/align][align=left]I hope you have.[/align][align=left] John4D
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