brakes

1

Nothing is ever easy on the Syncro. Started a little maintenance on the Syncro after old bar. The front brake pads have been getting low for a while and figured it's time to change them, and look at a few other jobs I'd had planned at the same time as the brakes were due for bleeding also. The discs are like new, so have left these. And I wanted to change the brake hoses at the same time.

Well, of course it's never that easy. I have not had to touch the front brake pads yet. How do you remove them?? Of course our calipers are different to what they have in the US, so not shown in the Bentley, and most youtube video's are for the US style calipers.

Eventually figured how to remove the pins holding the top half of the caliper in place ( allen key bolt under the rubber boot)

The size was 7mm, which of course no std allen key set has a 7mm key!

Anyway, that job is done. Looks like the rebuild kit for the front calipers are not right also, so have to get the correct kits now!

Next was the hose (new stainless braded). The anchoring point to the body is very limited in room, so took ages to remove and re-install.


Couple of pictures attached.


Anyone have an old set of calipers they would sell? That way I can swap over and re-build them at my leisure.

Not critical, but would make life simpler.


Richard

3
An update on the brakes. Have found the correct caliper kits for ATE calipers out of Europe. Have also found a kit with new pins and rubber boots for ATE caliper. Hope to get these soon. I realized I never posted up I have done the rears also, new wheel cylinders, SS braded hose, new shoes. The drums are about half worn (between new size and wear limit), so kept the old drums BUT the adjustment on a T3 drum is not the best.

After a little driving and re-checking the brake, only half the shoes were contacting the drum. As there is no adjustment at the bottom of the shoe, you can't fix this. I made some shims for the bottom pivot and the shoes not have full contact and work a lot better!!

Looking into this further, even my ('82) T3's do not adjust the shoes at the bottom, like they did in a T2 kombi. But the adjusting screws from a bay fit right in. I have a set to fit in, but need to get the clips that stop the adjustment screw turning. They also look like they fit right in.

Out of interest, looks like a couple of places are listing the rubber boot for the rear door again (for the cables). I will order a couple of sets and see what they look like!

Richard
4
Great idea Richard.

Also need to drill the access holes and fit rubber bungs to suit the extra adjusters.

My 69 kombi has all four wheels with unboosted drum brakes.

I'm amazed but they actually work.

Cheers,

Scott



On 19/11/2018 2:44 AM, cathrich1@yahoo.com.au [Syncro_T3_Australia] wrote:
An update on the brakes. Have found the correct caliper kits for ATE calipers out of Europe. Have also found a kit with new pins and rubber boots for ATE caliper. Hope to get these soon. I realized I never posted up I have done the rears also, new wheel cylinders, SS braded hose, new shoes. The drums are about half worn (between new size and wear limit), so kept the old drums BUT the adjustment on a T3 drum is not the best.

After a little driving and re-checking the brake, only half the shoes were contacting the drum. As there is no adjustment at the bottom of the shoe, you can't fix this. I made some shims for the bottom pivot and the shoes not have full contact and work a lot better!!

Looking into this further, even my ('82) T3's do not adjust the shoes at the bottom, like they did in a T2 kombi. But the adjusting screws from a bay fit right in. I have a set to fit in, but need to get the clips that stop th e adjustment screw turning. They also look like they fit right in.

Out of interest, looks like a couple of places are listing the rubber boot for the rear door again (for the cables). I will order a couple of sets and see what they look like!

Richard

--
Best regards, Scott Pitcher SPB Consulting
5

Hi Richard,

Yeah I remember adjusting the rear drum brakes with its TWO adjusters per shoe on my '76 T2 Bay Doka. How sensible/great was that?! Worked a treat! So what VAG F...whit genius moron decided the later/larger/heavier T3 only needed ONE adjuster per shoe???!!!! Explains why ever since, T3 rear brakes get nothing but bad press.

So yes, given this pathetic later design for the T3, they may as well have shortened the brake shoe to about two inches in length!!!


Somebody at VAG design must have finally awoken from their deep slumber of some 10 years duration before finally sorting the rear brakes with the release of the T4.


Re: renewing the RHS rear hatch rubber boot, may as well take the opportunity to replace the single water jet on the rear glass with a triple jet like these:

Goto: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Windshield-Wiper-Water-Jet-Nozzle-Durable-Plastic-fit-For-Suzuki-Swift-Alto-SX4/253580351674?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Get two sets if you want to do the fronts as well. Work a treat. The OEM singles by comparison are hopeless.


Cheers.

Ken

 
www.ebay.com.au
2x Windshield Wiper Water Spray Jet Nozzle For Suzuki Swift Alto SX4. For Suzuki Swift Alto SX4. 2 x Water Spray Jet Nozzle. | eBay!



From: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com> on behalf of cathrich1@yahoo.com.au [Syncro_T3_Australia] <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, 19 November 2018 2:44 AM
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Re: brakes [3 Attachments]
 
 

An update on the brakes. Have found the correct caliper kits for ATE calipers out of Europe. Have also found a kit with new pins and rubber boots for ATE caliper. Hope to get these soon. I realized I never posted up I have done the rears also, new wheel cylinders, SS braded hose, new shoes. The drums are about half worn (between new size and wear limit), so kept the old drums BUT the adjustment on a T3 drum is not the best.

After a little driving and re-checking the brake, only half the shoes were contacting the drum. As there is no adjustment at the bottom of the shoe, you can't fix this. I made some shims for the bottom pivot and the shoes not have full contact and work a lot better!!

Looking into this further, even my ('82) T3's do not adjust the shoes at the bottom, like they did in a T2 kombi. But the adjusting screws from a bay fit right in. I have a set to fit in, but need to get the clips that stop the adjustment screw turning. They also look like they fit right in.

Out of interest, looks like a couple of places are listing the rubber boot for the rear door again (for the cables). I will order a couple of sets and see what they look like!

Richard

6
Thanks Ken/Scott,
I will not drill holes to start with and see how it goes. Not that big a deal to slip the drum off and adjust a bit them re-install for now.
Yes Scott, a well selected combination of master cylinder and slave works without a booster! 
Ken, for all the issues on the T3 rear brakes, the hand brake holds better on the T3 than the T2. Plus the top adjustment on the T2 is with the hand brake, so not ideal either. Interesting on the brake shoes, if you look close at my photo, one shoe does have a shortened amount of material.

With the rear door, yes I have a set of those water jets. Funny, I bought a set off ebay as was recommended (~$15 for the set) and look good, I got a second set similar price to your link and they are the identical part in the same packing!
Richard


---In Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com, <unclekenz@...> wrote :

Hi Richard,

Yeah I remember adjusting the rear drum brakes with its TWO adjusters per shoe on my '76 T2 Bay Doka. How sensible/great was that?! Worked a treat! So what VAG F...whit genius moron decided the later/larger/heavier T3 only needed ONE adjuster per shoe???!!!! Explains why ever since, T3 rear brakes get nothing but bad press.

So yes, given this pathetic later design for the T3, they may as well have shortened the brake shoe to about two inches in length!!!


Somebody at VAG design must have finally awoken from their deep slumber of some 10 years duration before finally sorting the rear brakes with the release of the T4.


Re: renewing the RHS rear hatch rubber boot, may as well take the opportunity to replace the single water jet on the rear glass with a triple jet like these:

Goto: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Windshield-Wiper-Water-Jet-Nozzle-Durable-Plastic-fit-For-Suzuki-Swift-Alto-SX4/253580351674?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Get two sets if you want to do the fronts as well. Work a treat. The OEM singles by comparison are hopeless.


Cheers.

Ken

 
www.ebay.com.au
2x Windshield Wiper Water Spray Jet Nozzle For Suzuki Swift Alto SX4. For Suzuki Swift Alto SX4. 2 x Water Spray Jet Nozzle. | eBay!



From: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com> on behalf of cathrich1@... [Syncro_T3_Australia] <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, 19 November 2018 2:44 AM
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Re: brakes [3 Attachments]
 
 

An update on the brakes. Have found the correct caliper kits for ATE calipers out of Europe. Have also found a kit with new pins and rubber boots for ATE caliper. Hope to get these soon. I realized I never posted up I have done the rears also, new wheel cylinders, SS braded hose, new shoes. The drums are about half worn (between new size and wear limit), so kept the old drums BUT the adjustment on a T3 drum is not the best.

After a little driving and re-checking the brake, only half the shoes were contacting the drum. As there is no adjustment at the bottom of the shoe, you can't fix this. I made some shims for the bottom pivot and the shoes not have full contact and work a lot better!!

Looking into this further, even my ('82) T3's do not adjust the shoes at the bottom, like they did in a T2 kombi. But the adjusting screws from a bay fit right in. I have a set to fit in, but need to get the clips that stop the adjustment screw turning. They also look like they fit right in.

Out of interest, looks like a couple of places are listing the rubber boot for the rear door again (for the cables). I will order a couple of sets and see what they look like!

Richard

7
My '88 caravelle has star adjusters on both sides at the bottom. It also has a "self-adjusting" brake mechanism which doesn't seem to work very well. Every year at rego time I strip down the brakes and lightly lubricate the star adjusters and handbrake cable with the slightest hint of a suggestion of silver grease (I've had the same can for over forty years, you don't need much!) Otherwise they seize up. Then I adjust them, and voila! the handbrake works!
8
That's interesting. I can only assume some one has fitted these (none of my T3's do)
Do the star adjusters have anything to prevent them "undoing" ?
I think it's a great addition though!
Richard
9
Hi Roger, 
Great stuff.
Reckon your rear brake setup would make a great "show N tell" at the next syncro meet up! Like Richard, from distant memory, I may also have shimmed out the non-adjustable end of the brake shoes. 
Cheers. 
Ken




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-------- Original message --------
From: "Roger Bayley gullyraker53@gmail.com [Syncro_T3_Australia]" <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com>
Date: 20/11/2018 9:49 PM (GMT+10:00)
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Re: brakes


 

My '88 caravelle has star adjusters on both sides at the bottom. It also has a "self-adjusting" brake mechanism which doesn't seem to work very well. Every year at rego time I strip down the brakes and lightly lubricate the star adjusters and handbrake cable with the slightest hint of a suggestion of silver grease (I've had the same can for over forty years, you don't need much!) Otherwise they seize up. Then I adjust them, and voila! the handbrake works!