| Author | Message | ||
     Patrick Lockyer. Grand Master Username: pat_lockyer Post Number: 1460 Registered: 9-2004 |
The mot carried out in April and the brakes showed all good balance with no binding. Today however the brakes gave up on one circuit, this was the n/s rear failing as the smoke was given off. Let the brake cool down and drove slowly home with just one working circuit. Tonight removed the rear caliper 1-1/2 hours and found the top pistons had held the pads on. Cause rear brake hose failed blocked. Some pix of the caliper removal.  Caliper removed  Top pistons free but damage to dust seals and piston seals most probable. Caliper dismantle rebuild tomorrow with new hose to complete job.   | ||
| Patrick Francis Prolific User Username: jackpot Post Number: 161 Registered: 11-2016 |
Hi Patrick I replaced all 14 of my hoses on advice from this forum and some persuasion from failings of the car itself! Apparently failing hoses can block and cause brakes to bind as you have experienced. I am probably preaching to the converted here, but my hoses were original from 1974. How old are yours? | ||
| Patrick Lockyer. Grand Master Username: pat_lockyer Post Number: 1464 Registered: 9-2004 |
Hi Patrick yes change within the required service schedule, recommend time 8 years or 96000 miles. However thought I could carry out checks and detect any failing through sluggish return of fluid showing up on the yearly mot brake test! All flex brake hoses were changed in the brake overhaul in about 2005. Rat trap and other self levelling hoses ect I have changed in 2015. Brake test all ok that was in April this year. I have a thought still the castor oil mix may shorten the hose life. Other makes of cars running DOT 4 do not have such a common failing. | ||
| Robert Noel Reddington Grand Master Username: bob_uk Post Number: 1499 Registered: 5-2015 |
17668 1974 All my brake flexible hoses have been changed (10 off) I have 4 levelling hoses age unknown but one is braided SS, my levelling system is working fine so I left them alone. The Shadow seems to block up hoses more than other makes of cars but it is not unknown and more common than one might think with other makes. | ||
| Patrick Lockyer. Grand Master Username: pat_lockyer Post Number: 1469 Registered: 9-2004 |
Bob are you still running the original water pump? My car is 17766 march 1974. My pump just let go! Forgot it was bank holiday so going to be pushed with the brakes spares etc ready for the Beaulieu events. Would have bought some pistons from Kelly [good value] but mine cleaned up ok.  | ||
| Geoff Wootton Grand Master Username: dounraey Post Number: 1759 Registered: 5-2012 |
Hi Patrick Your pistons are in remarkably good condition. Below is a picture of mine. This is what brake pistons should not look like. The boots had disintegrated but surprisingly the bores were ok. I've just replaced the seals, boots and pistons, unfortunately just before Kelly made his pistons available.  | ||
| Patrick Lockyer. Grand Master Username: pat_lockyer Post Number: 1470 Registered: 9-2004 |
Geoff must confess to using the car in most cases in the dry. I also assemble the pistons and fill a good amount of the red brake grease in the dust boots. | ||
| Robert Noel Reddington Grand Master Username: bob_uk Post Number: 1500 Registered: 5-2015 |
original water pump still fitted, and fine. 117k miles. | ||
| richard george yeaman Grand Master Username: richyrich Post Number: 803 Registered: 4-2012 |
SRH19529 as far as I know is still on its original pump, I have only had my car six years, so you really don't know for sure. | ||
| Paul Yorke Grand Master Username: paul_yorke Post Number: 1842 Registered: 6-2006 |
Water pumps - very variable but usually give some sort of warning before going. Drips or rumbles. On Metal radiator capped Spirits it's really important to remove the radiator cap as well as the large plastic cap on the expansion tank. If there is a slight leak it can suck air in instead of water from the expansion tank. Expansion tank remains full - no low coolant light. Engine slowly empties. Brake hoses - Change the Height control ones as well. Especially the return hose by the left hand HCV. This low pressure outlet can get blown out if the return to the reservoir gets blocked. 9 years is extreme service conditions to be on the safe side. They do last longer . . . .much longer than most other cars are on the road for . . .so they seem to give more trouble than other cars.  | ||
| Patrick Lockyer. Grand Master Username: pat_lockyer Post Number: 1473 Registered: 9-2004 |
And of course the car being an SS1 I should have headed the thread as "Brakes failed on two circuits!" Paul BMC or Leyland vehicles in the 70's had just that sort of common problems some even had the expansion tank cap swapped with the rad cap. Yes the hoses give more trouble if they don't collapse then its the Ferrules rusting out. Not so common on Mercs Jap cars etc with the yearly test. IMO the suspension movement and the castor oil mix is mostly to blame. Shame the design was not like Citroen with smaller pipe and coils where travel is needed! | ||
| Patrick Lockyer. Grand Master Username: pat_lockyer Post Number: 1490 Registered: 9-2004 |
To-day had a hour spare so fitted up the pistons and seals to the caliper, copious amounts of rubber lube and then fit the dust covers ah I remember why it is not a common practice with some, The spring clips holding the covers in place takes time more so on the smaller piston! But the reward of not having seized pistons is worth the time spent.   | ||
| Patrick Lockyer. Grand Master Username: pat_lockyer Post Number: 1500 Registered: 9-2004 |
Today fitted all the rear new hoses, found one blocked on the n/s the shorter one of the two brake hoses. Cause maybe the extra wright of the LPG tank and the rough road kerb potholes. | ||
| Paul Yorke Grand Master Username: paul_yorke Post Number: 1849 Registered: 6-2006 |
NSR are usually first. Cooking from the exhaust? Would recommend changing them all inc HCV and rat trap hoses. Hoses are much cheaper and less work than calliper rebuilds & pads. And much much less heart breaking than a car going up in flames. One change of fluid , one bleed. | ||
| Patrick Lockyer. Grand Master Username: pat_lockyer Post Number: 1501 Registered: 9-2004 |
No cooking from my car, no ground effect no CAT and a cool running engine on LPG, stainless single exhaust still has oil stains from a broke drive shaft boot years ago! Front hoses, rat trap hoses have been changed when new front pads and a fluid change was carried out a few years ago. Lucas type hoses used. Shadow car burn outs happen mostly I'm told when the front braided hydraulic hose bursts by the front exhaust, brake fluid being highly inflammable gives a good fire! | ||
| Paul Yorke Grand Master Username: paul_yorke Post Number: 1850 Registered: 6-2006 |
Rear brakes seizing on, becoming red hot, boiling the grease out, burning the caliper seals, break fluid leaking onto red hot discs and liquid grease . . . All happening behind the driver so they don't notice the smoke (believe it or not.) Time for a BBQ  | ||
| Patrick Lockyer. Grand Master Username: pat_lockyer Post Number: 1502 Registered: 9-2004 |
Wise words Paul for those that do not use their rear view mirror or notice any change in their braking behaviour. Two circuits down and no smoke then some smoke heat getting the car home slowly and stopping to cool down. Caliper seals dust covers still got hot. No fluid leak just fluid boiled.....circuit failure........ How many of these cars run into things with this type of failure when there is still the other operational circuit in use but the thick over mat puts a resistance up. | ||
| gordon le feuvre Prolific User Username: triumph Post Number: 204 Registered: 7-2012 |
BIG PROBLEM FIRES ARE LOW PRESSURE FEED TO BRAKE PUMP(S) HAVE SEEN THESE HARDEN WITH AGE TO POINT SPLITTING BY ACTION OF ENGINE TORQUE ALLOWING B/FLUID TO DRIP ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD! INTERESTING STORY OF GUY NEAR HAMILTON N.Z., WHO BROKE UP CARS AND SOLD PARTS FOR A LIVING. HE ADVERTISED HIS BUSINESS AS "ROLLS-ROYCE OF PARTS" HE HAD VISIT FROM R-R REPRESENTATIVE WHO SAID HE COULD NOT USE THEIR NAME. IN FULLNESS OF TIME HE WAS OFFERED A SHADOW THAT HAD HAD AN ENGINE BAY FIRE. HE PAINTED IT PINK, MOUNTED IT ON A 30FT RSJ, SO THAT IT CAN BEEN SEEN COMING TOWARDS HAMILTON ON MOTORWAY. IT IS HIS CAR! | ||
| Martin Taylor Frequent User Username: martin_taylor Post Number: 83 Registered: 7-2013 |
Mine did that on the first trip, I put the fire out and did a brake hose change along with accumulators etc (thanks Roy Tilley for your help if you are reading), not long after I had to replace the left rear wheel bearing, the grease had been cooked. You may want to order a set, for anyone else with similar issues I suggest either road side disconnection of the offending brake (not easy but not impossible if you have a 6mm ball bearing) or a tow home as the rear bearing replacement is a massive job. | ||
| Paul Yorke Grand Master Username: paul_yorke Post Number: 1851 Registered: 6-2006 |
As gordon says . .. BIG PROBLEM FIRES ARE LOW PRESSURE FEED TO BRAKE PUMP(S) HAVE SEEN THESE HARDEN WITH AGE TO POINT SPLITTING BY ACTION OF ENGINE TORQUE ALLOWING B/FLUID TO DRIP ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD! But must also mention people using LHM by mistake - turns the feed hoses to jelly and pours out over the manifolds. Martin - you are right - nursing binding brakes home is a false economy in the long run | ||
| Patrick Lockyer. Grand Master Username: pat_lockyer Post Number: 1503 Registered: 9-2004 |
I was lucky the brakes did not bind after the cooling down period. Heat expansion disc caliper ect.......cooled......FREE. Was able to slowly drive home after checking no more smoke with stops along the way with one braking circuit. Cripes LHM by mistake in DOT 3-4! do people really do that or do they take the car to the local garage to have the low warning fluid light checked out. | ||
| Paul Yorke Grand Master Username: paul_yorke Post Number: 1852 Registered: 6-2006 |
do people really do that .. . . not often thankfully :/ Yes. And some garages to. One leading oil distributor actually had "suitable for all Rolls-Royces" on the LHM+ bottles and on their website vehicle oil finder pages!! | ||
| Patrick Lockyer. Grand Master Username: pat_lockyer Post Number: 1504 Registered: 9-2004 |
Cripes, the type used is in black and white on the fluid tank by the filler caps.  |
