Rear Brakes Overhaul

[XJR-S]

Well, as I've decided to keep my car, the job list is ever increasing. Luckily I'm doing a few bits myself and outsourcing the rest to a very friendly and competent independent mechanic. I'm hoping to get him up to speed on all things XJS - So if anyone in the Berkshire area wants a contact, you can reap the benefits of the experience my car will have given him.....

So. My questions...

1 - Callipers need rebuilding - There's a few companies online who offer an exchange type service, can anyone recommend one that they have used?

2 - Discs pads and handbrake pads. I've found good priced genuine Jaguar rear discs, I'm going to fit genuine Jaguar pads, but was *nearly* going to cheap out on the handbrake pads, when I've read on here the horrors of the friction material falling off the backing plate - Shall I just bite the bullet and get genuine parts?

3 - Brake hoses. I'm not worried about copper hoses that need remaking as I'm a dab hand at that now - I'm thinking about the flexi hoses. A policy I've always had with my cars is fitting good quality braided hoses - Is this a sensible move on an XJS?

4 - Remote bleeding hoses - Overkill? After all, it'll be the mechanic bleeding them

5 - So far, everything I've posted up has brought a fantastic wealth of experience and "when I did it this happened, avoid it" or "while you are in there, you should change this too..." So please let me know

The rear diff is leaking so there will be quite a lot of work for him whilst he's under there.

[steve_m]

Ref point 3, brake hoses.
I have never understood why a system that may have to rely on the sudden application of very high hydraulic pressure relies on a flexible carrying medium.
Take your average garden gas barbcue; the cylinder has to pass a huge amount of mechanical, pressure and safety standard tests. The barbecue cannot be sold (new) unless it complies with an endless raft of safety legislation. Yet you can connect the the two with a bit of rubber hose and a jubilee clip that you bought at a car boot sale.
Braided everytime if only because it will add a layer of mechanical protection to the rubber hose.
There but for a ha'p'orth of tar..........
But it will give you a harder brake pedal. Which you will get used to in about 20 minutes.

[Brakebuster]

there is a company called ' Big Red ' that refurbishes brake callipers on an exchange basis , or bought outright if they have them in stock , basic fish right up to any colour powder coated etc

also , braided hoses all the way , will cost a few pennies more, but well worth it

remote bleeding kit, hmm , you only need to bleed the brakes intermittently , and a good mechanic won't have a problem, so not worth it imho ,

the diff seal is a pop to fix, drop off the prop shaft, mark the hub nut to the shaft, remove the hub , remove the old seal , and install the new one, tighten the nut to the made mark

one thing to ensure is to soak the new seal for at least 12 hours prior to installation , it is leather , and will friction burn the first time its used causing a leak again if not soaked ,


BB

[davidr]

With the amount of work that you are looking at on the back axle it may be worth dropping it out. You may have noticed that it is all in a self contained "cage" that is quite quick to get out and worth the effort if you're doing much work on it.
The time it takes to drop the back axle out will be more than worth it for the ease of access and makes jobs like working on the brakes much quicker and easier.
Regards
David

[XJR-S]

With the amount of work that you are looking at on the back axle it may be worth dropping it out. You may have noticed that it is all in a self contained "cage" that is quite quick to get out and worth the effort if you're doing much work on it.
The time it takes to drop the back axle out will be more than worth it for the ease of access and makes jobs like working on the brakes much quicker and easier.
Regards
David

Yeah I totally agree, that's the only way to go really. Though if memory serves from past cars, doing the pinion seal will be easier with the handbrake still connected. Fortunately, I won't be having to do it all! Somehow with an 8 month old baby there simply isn't time for it any more unfortunately.

[steve_m]

XJR-S. Where abouts in Berkshire is your guy?

[PaulGover]

On the subject of metal-braided brake hoses: some people consider them dangerous, particularly on low annual mileage cars. The issue is that hoses usually fail because the rubber deteriorates, and the braiding hides that from inspection. A "classic car" doing perhaps 5,000 miles a year will take 12 years before the service schedule would call for hose replacement, and that's a long time for rubber.

I'm happy using non-braided hoses and replacing them every few years (typically when I change pads, about 30,000 miles, say 6 years). Actually, they have internal braiding, so they are every bit as strong as externally braided hoses, but you get to see the rubber condition, and can check for cracking and splits. In fact the braiding should last longer, as it's protected by the outer rubber.

[XJR-S]

XJR-S. Where abouts in Berkshire is your guy?

Between Ascot and Bracknell

Paul, very interesting thoughts on Braided hoses, I see where you are coming from and it makes me wonder about my daily runner. I recently put uprated brakes and new hoses front and back but the floor-axel braided hoses are probably 40k old at least. I'll have a close look at them when I'm next under there.