MOT fail

[Dinnae Ken]

Have been using Screwfix No Nonsense penetrating oil for years now, (750ml can for about £5.50) works just as well as Plusgas
and you needn't be shy with the big can.
After fitting a new cylinder or brake pipe I always spray all the parts outside the drum that can collect dirt with white lithium grease. Stops the brake pipe seizing into the fitting and gives a layer of protection over the bleed nipple and mounting bolt which I replace with a stainless one.
It can help shoe fitting if you put a cable tie around the cylinder pistons to keep the seals out of the way of the shoes. Once the shoes are fitted just snip it off.

Thanks for the tips. Screwfix is my 2nd home so will order up some, gets great reviews too.

 

[Little Dog]

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Thanks for the advice. I'm going to order a full set and replace after I've cleaned up the backing plates.

Aye with the amount of pressure I was putting on them they are defo well seized. I've got that copper grease, will that do? Will tackle it over the weekend and see what the next hurdle is.

Copper grease can be the opposite of what you need, it can conduct electricity. Vaseline is a water resistant electrical insulator. The problem I think you have is salt water has made its way up the thread. galvanic corrosion has occurred and the screw is now solid in aluminium oxide. You need to keep the water out and stop the corrosive electron flow between steel and aluminium. Put a small tub of Vaseline in your trolley the next time you are at the supermarket. It will last years.
If you have to resort to drilling a 6mm drill should get it without damaging the back plate.

 

[Dinnae Ken]

Copper grease can be the opposite of what you need, it can conduct electricity. Vaseline is a water resistant electrical insulator. The problem I think you have is salt water has made its way up the thread. galvanic corrosion has occurred and the screw is now solid in aluminium oxide. You need to keep the water out and stop the corrosive electron flow between steel and aluminium. Put a small tub of Vaseline in your trolley the next time you are at the supermarket. It will last years.
If you have to resort to drilling a 6mm drill should get it without damaging the back plate.

That's great. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Dinnae Ken]

Copper grease can be the opposite of what you need, it can conduct electricity. Vaseline is a water resistant electrical insulator. The problem I think you have is salt water has made its way up the thread. galvanic corrosion has occurred and the screw is now solid in aluminium oxide. You need to keep the water out and stop the corrosive electron flow between steel and aluminium. Put a small tub of Vaseline in your trolley the next time you are at the supermarket. It will last years.
If you have to resort to drilling a 6mm drill should get it without damaging the back plate.

Finally got round to removing the cylinders and drilling worked a treat. I drilled down into the middle of the head of the screw and the cylinders then easily tapped out.

Question. The handbrake cables are pretty well seized to the backplate. They were working fine, but I'm now wondering if I am as well to replace them since I have this all stripped back? Any views and advice on this would be welcomed.

 

[Little Dog]

It has been a while since I replaced my handbrake cables. They worked fine but were corroding and fraying where they run parallel to the rear axle.
Problems I had were:
Sourcing the correct cables.
The larger fuel tank, if you have it, may need to be dropped to replace the RH cable.

 

[Dinnae Ken]

It has been a while since I replaced my handbrake cables. They worked fine but were corroding and fraying where they run parallel to the rear axle.
Problems I had were:
Sourcing the correct cables.
The larger fuel tank, if you have it, may need to be dropped to replace the RH cable.

I finally got the cables free with a chisel and hammer. Left the penetrating oil on for a few days to really work in and then scrapped off the rust from around the cable back and front. Another blast with penetrating oil, waited again, scraped around the cables and then a few gentle taps with the hammer and hey presto they were freed!