Caliper alignment

[canberra triumph]

Can anyone tell me the trick to getting the calipers back on to the hub. I have just spent the best part of 2 days trying (unsuccessfully) to do this. I am able to align both the top and bottom holes up, and once even jagged the thread on the lower bolt. It seems as if the tin plate mudguard is always a little off centre and the bolt is unable to get past to the thread.

Please help me guys, tearing my hair out with something that should be a no brainer.

[andyborris]

Hammer, a gentle tap is needed to pass it through the stoneguard.

Or with them off, helps the cooling of the brakes!

Andy

[Alec]

Hello Simon,

the guards are easily distorted, so if you wish to retain them, bend the securing tabs so as to get the best possible alignment with the holes.

Alec

[Alan Chatterton]

I just fitted all new on the front of mine, and the stoneguard was out of alignment.

I put in the bottom bolt, which then allowed me to push down on the top of the stoneguard to get it lined up, whilst tapping the head of the bolt gently with a hammer....... soon goes in.

[mikew]

I put in the bottom bolt, which then allowed me to push down on the top of the stoneguard to get it lined up, whilst tapping the head of the bolt gently with a hammer....... soon goes in.

no wonder you needed a new set of bolts .... lost were they ? hmmmmmmm bent and twisted with "gentle" hammer persuasion more like

mike

[Alan Chatterton]

nah mate... gentle tapping not clobbering!!!

Anyway, it was the other bolts that I damaged............!!

[CAR]

If your struts were anything to go by Alan it was because the holes were much smaller due to the thickest powder coating I have ever seen on anything.
Good job you've got a V8 in Libby with that powder coating and extra lead in the rear arches!

[Alan Chatterton]

[canberra triumph]

After judicially bending the stone guard in many directions, accompanied by the almost mandatory swearing and exclaiming "why did they design it like that", I finally had alignment. Could not for the life of me see where the spring clips went, and they were not on the car when I got it, so left these off - hopefully they are not that critical.

After bleeding all around, tested the brakes, and glory be, they actually worked.

Now onto the next step, tuning the carbys, will keep you all posted.

[kevinw]

I was just going to ask the same question (glad I looked first)

When I checked the car over prior to the last MOT, I noticed that there was more than acceptable slack in the front offside hub, so adjusted the wheel bearing one flat. Or, at least, that was the plan, but there was no adjustment left.

I've just got a set of new bearings from Chris Witor and thought I'd have them fitted in a couple of hours. Most of you know what a total mechanical numpty I am, so I guess this was a bit optimistic.

Getting the caliper off was a struggle - probably the first time its been off since the car was built, but with a bit of use with a rubber mallet and lots of swearing, it eventually fell onto me - protecting it from any damage or stretching the flexible hose (which I also checked over). Replacing the bearings was a doddle with the aid of a couple of suitable drifts (old Xcel-lite small box spanner bits).

All went smoothly until it came to getting the bolts back through the stoneguard. Same comment as "why did they design it like that?" Eventually resorted to chopping a small segment out near to the lower fixing hole to get the blasted thing to ge back together. Five hours later...

Now got the other side to do - it can wait till next week as I'm not using the car for a few days. Does the stoneguard actually do anything useful, or can they safely be removed for normal road use as Andy suggests - and if so, where's the other fixing bolt?

Kevin