| Author | Message | ||
     Jan Forrest Experienced User Username: got_one Post Number: 40 Registered: 1-2008 |
I can source the main brake pads - front and rear - at what I consider to be reasonable prices. (Not that I actually need any at the moment). But ... here in Blighty quotes for handbrake pads are running at £50 (AUS$100) and up! Any sources anywhere in the world would most gratefully received. | ||
| Paul Yorke Grand Master Username: paul_yorke Post Number: 301 Registered: 6-2006 |
Jan - £35 + vat & P+P . | ||
| Jan Forrest Experienced User Username: got_one Post Number: 41 Registered: 1-2008 |
"Jan - £35 + vat & P+P ." Thanks. Still works out at ~£46 for 4 tiny pads but the best so far. So, where from? | ||
| Stephe Boddice Frequent User Username: stephe_boddice Post Number: 70 Registered: 2-2005 |
Jan, I feel that a degree of perspective needs to be brought to this discussion. You have a vehicle that cost at least £100,000 in today's money. You intend to replace the handbrake pads, which is a job undertaken possibly once or twice in the life of the car. Does it really matter if you need to spend an extra £10 to buy the pads from a local supplier? Nobody likes to waste money but the specialist suppliers stock a whole range of slow-moving stock, that would be otherwise unavailable, just so we can keep our cars on the road. Give them the business and profit on the insignificant bits and maybe they will manage to stay in business long enough that they will supply the really scarce parts when you eventually need them. SB www.boddice.co.uk | ||
| Jan Forrest Experienced User Username: got_one Post Number: 42 Registered: 1-2008 |
I appreciate the problems that suppliers face on slow-moving components and the other points you have raised. BUT ... Considering the size of these pads - somewhat smaller than you would find on a moped - then IMHO the prices demanded is just taking the pi$$! Still; when ya gotta, ya gotta  Ps. Now I've mentioned mopeds: About 20 months ago, when I first got The Old Girl, she cost me £120 for fully comprehensive insurance (including full breakdown/accident cover anywhere in the EU). The previous month I insured a new moped, Third Party Only, for £121!  Now that is ripping me a new one ... | ||
| Paul Yorke Grand Master Username: paul_yorke Post Number: 302 Registered: 6-2006 |
Jan, I think you're looking at the insurance the wrong way around - It's not the moped that's expensive - it's the R-R that's dirt cheap! Make yourself feel better - you're ripping the insurance co a new one! lol. Also - You can't go by size on the brake pad prices - how many cars use that pad? No economy of scale possible with them! It's the fact that they wouldn't stop a moped rolling away that gets me  Good job R-R stopped offering manual cars! | ||
| Richard Treacy Grand Master Username: richard_treacy Post Number: 1638 Registered: 4-2003 |
How about this. We have a Turbo R here with 166,000 miles (remember miles guys ?) and a T-Series with 210,000 miles. The parking brake pads are unworn and have never been changed on either. They only ever do any work at the roadworthiness test, as otherwise they are only occasionally used and only to hold the vehicle. They are not brakes as such, were never designed to be brakes, and never have any cause to wear. Too small ? Maybe they are too big. Expensive ? er. Not really. Look at the shape of the backing plate and the wedged friction profile, and they could easily be named a bargain. Effective enough to stop the car in an emergency ? Plenty, unless they are not adjusted like on most cars. Honestly, the parking brakes on these cars are over-specified if anything. I have had two new sets of parking brake pads looking silly in my shed for about 15 years. By the way, the brand is Lucas and the cross-reference is Mintex MGB563. The most brilliant thing about these parking brakes is that they take just 30 seconds to adjust with a 1/2" spanner. We overhauled the rear calipers on a friend's Turbo R yesterday afternoon. You guessed it, the parking brake pads are like new at 100,000 miles or so. No wonder the sales volume is zilch, and restricted to the poor blokes who have a blown parking brake indicator lamp. With no indicator, a forgotten parking brake will burn up on any car on the planet. RT. | ||
| Gus Brogden Experienced User Username: gus Post Number: 30 Registered: 2-2008 |
I had to get my 77 Shadow safetied in British Columbia because I was registering it from out of province. I was told he wouldn't certify it unless I changed the park brake pads. I told him that in my opinion, I seen nothing wrong with them. After a small argument that I knew I would lose, I agreed that I would, and then bring the car back. I ordered new ones, at $140 CAD,and they were no better than the old ones. I now have a lifetime supply of them for both Shadows. The same shop also handed me a bottle of mineral oil with verbal instructions that I should always keep a spare bottle in the trunk. I should have told him that the hydraulic system on these cars are high pressure sealed systems that never need "the new fluid".  | ||
| Paul Yorke Grand Master Username: paul_yorke Post Number: 303 Registered: 6-2006 |
Gus, I would have been tempted to take the empty bottle back after a month, with a letter I'd 'mocked up' saying the Mineral oil had ruined both hydraulic systems and an invoice for a £4000 for a complete rebuild. Never let mineral oil near a Shadow!! Although, to be fair, he did tell you to put it in the trunk, not the hydraulic system! The parking brakes really are just there to pass the MOT test. Adjust it before the test and then after , then leave don't use it – is my advice to owners. It makes me laugh on Later Spirits – IMO about the only time the parking brake is used is when there is a chance the car may be knocked out of PARK or when you're making adjustments on the engine and want the car in gear. On later cars , the handbrake releases itself as soon as the gear stick is knocked into gear - Perfect! Zero Safety – but the pads last an extra 20 years! lol. | ||
| Gus Brogden Experienced User Username: gus Post Number: 31 Registered: 2-2008 |
It was another argument I knew I wouldn't win. I mentioned the perils of mineral oil and I was told "we use it in all RR's". Besides mine, there are only 3 others in town and one is on 363. I haven't seen him for a couple of years, but am looking forward to talking to him. I have the brakes on my shadows working perfect and I would never let anyone work on them. Come to think of it, I wouldn't let anyone do anything to my cars. Most of them think you cant repair them because they never break down, and the engines are sealed shut anyway. I cant believe how often I hear that. | ||
| Paul Yorke Grand Master Username: paul_yorke Post Number: 304 Registered: 6-2006 |
They are – Aren't they?? | ||
| Richard Treacy Grand Master Username: richard_treacy Post Number: 1639 Registered: 4-2003 |
Of course, the testers go bananas when they see the parking brake pads. Being wedge-shaped, the pads are fairly wafer-thin at one end even when new. Parking Brake Pads - new.  | ||
| Richard Treacy Grand Master Username: richard_treacy Post Number: 1640 Registered: 4-2003 |
And yes, Paul, those self-releasing parking brakes give me the Willies too. I always disconnect the solenoid so that they don't release when the Pixies decide. Not that I ever use a parking brake on any car with a realistic transmission as opposed to those funny old cars with a clutch pedal that is. The parker needs a bit of use and lube to be sure that the mechanism works, but that's about it. R. | ||
| Patrick Lockyer. Grand Master Username: pat_lockyer Post Number: 811 Registered: 9-2004 |
RT has never come across worn handbrake pads!There can be many causes on the SS1-2 T1-2. | ||
| Jan Forrest Experienced User Username: got_one Post Number: 47 Registered: 1-2008 |
This is what one set of (nearside) pads looks like: http://www.centprods22.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Rolls/HB1.jpg and http://www.centprods22.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Rolls/HB2.jpg Admittedly there is more 'meat' left on them than the photos imply, but you can see that the friction material is breaking down leaving a much smaller surface area in contact with the disc! I now have 2 possible local firms for relining them. I just have to wait until I can contact them, tomorrow. |
