My problem ended up being a different problem..

[Midget78]

Hello to all of you. The weather here is finally in the 80's (for now) and it was nice to get the Midget out and put the top down for the first time. Anway, my plan was to put my new wheel cylinder on my car as I thought the passenger rear side was leaking. I got the drum off an noticed the rubber brake hose that runs up the middle to the hard lines (My midget is a 78 1500) had fluid on it and is the true culprit. The hose is dried out and needs changed and the wheel cylinder is fine. Now the issue is getting up in there to change it then Im thinking both sides will then need bled. The other thing I noticed is the exhaust clamp in the middle actually uses a thick leather strap (I think its leather) that is dried out and broke. I wonder if I can get these? Has any of you changed out the center brake line? Anything I should know?

 

[JPSmit]

yes both will need bled - but other than that, an easy job. Not sure the strap is leather but you could likely repair it with an old belt

 

[Jim_Gruber]

Those straps and various other type of hangers are available in the exhaust parts section of any of the big box auto parts.

 

[Midget78]

Thanks guys for the feedback. im going to look and see if I can go to the winners circle around the corner and get that line. The sooner I get it on the better I will feel. I dont want my brakes to fail. I will probably just change the exhaust strap to a metal one.

 

[bthompson]

That center hose was the very first hurdle Nigel presented me with. Ah, nostalgia...

Swapping it is a piece o' cake. Just get under there with a couple wrenches and off it goes.

It's just about the only spot on a Midget where there's decent space to work. :wink:

 

[Midget78]

Hey guys. I was just curious, after putting on the new hose and needing to bleed both rear sides. Should I try to do both at the same time or does it matter. After looking at it, replacing the center rubber line will push air into both sides since both hard lines branch from the union after the new hose. I will have to grab an extra body to push the brake. I just want to make sure I have them operating right as the brake systems is one of the things on these cars that I dont like with the thinking they could be better. Will that brake switch (I dont know what its called) that has that shuttle in it that divides the front and rear also get activated? Maybe Im thinking to much on this one.

 

[RickB]

Do the farthest one first then the next.
The trick of getting a long vinyl hose attaching to the bleeder and pumping worked very well for me on my MK2 Sprite a couple weeks ago. Just keep the master topped up.

 

[jlaird]

Left rear, right rear, left front, right front.