| Author |
Message |
    
Neil Miller
Yet to post message
Username: interalia
Post Number: 1
Registered: 11-2025
| | Posted on Friday, 28 November, 2025 - 22:41: |    |
Hello Folks
I own a 1975 SS1 in silver mink over Seychelles blue (62K miles the on clock) that I have looked after since buying it as a project about 15 years ago. This year I got around to revisiting the brakes again for flexy hose/seals replacement etc last done by me when I bought it. I have done lots of other work on the brakes since then though (new spheres and bodies last year for example).
When I bought it I fitted rebuilt calipers but this time I thought I would do it myself. I have fitted new small and large pistons but and now am trying fit the outer dust seals with the pesky spring clips. I didn't see the need to split the caliper and don't really want to. I have managed to get one of the large pistons done at the cost of several blooded fingers and a sore throat from all the swearing at it. I don't give up easily but I am getting older and was wondering if anyone has any tricks to assist? Should I have fitted the dust seals before putting the pistons in maybe?
Cheers
Neil
An 'apple' from the UK... |
Mika Rikkinen
New User
Username: mri
Post Number: 3
Registered: 10-2020
| | Posted on Saturday, 29 November, 2025 - 03:41: | |
I used old springs. Flying Spares seal set springs were too tight. |
Mark Herbstreit
Frequent User
Username: mark_herbstreit
Post Number: 255
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, 29 November, 2025 - 19:23: | |
I had the same problem with the Introcar springs Mika. I also reused the old springs. |
Neil Miller
New User
Username: interalia
Post Number: 2
Registered: 11-2025
| | Posted on Tuesday, 02 December, 2025 - 02:51: | |
Thanks Guys, I will give that a go.
Cheers
Neil |
Jim Walters
Frequent User
Username: jim_walters
Post Number: 396
Registered: 01-2014
| | Posted on Thursday, 04 December, 2025 - 08:29: | |
If you have thumbnails, it's not difficult. One trick is to keep the dust excluder clean, make sure no fluid on either side so it will not slip off when the spring is stretched over it. With your thumbnails, grab both sides as you would install a piston ring, hook one end over then stretch the other wide enough to slip over the edge. If you end up with a small pucker where the ring gap is just work one end of the spring open and closed with one thumbnail while keeping the rest of the ring pushed down over the edge with fingers of the other hand. Maybe I've got stronger thumbnails that others but it works easily that way for me. I've done literally thousands this way over my career.
SRH8505 LRB15211 SRC18015 SRE22493 NAC-5370
www.bristolmotors.com |
Mika Rikkinen
New User
Username: mri
Post Number: 4
Registered: 10-2020
| | Posted on Friday, 05 December, 2025 - 16:00: | |
I think there is no trick for these springs, something is different in these springs(too tight)
Few years ago I used same set and then springs were ok. Same shop, same set. |