6 replies to this topic

[82hle]

I fitted two new front backplates to my 82 HLE and in very short order the brakes failed. They didn't fail as such, they just lost "pedal" until only the backs were working. I investigated and found the adjusters on the right hand side had backed off. They were actually loose in the backplate. The vendor, very quickly offered a replacement, but although slightly better, that too has lost it's adjustment. 

 

This is a worry to me as my son is driving the car.

 

The left one seems ok, and the adjusters are noticeably tighter than the right. 

 

So here are a few questions:

 

Has anyone else found this problem?

 

Are the replacements with the part number and RH and LH stamped (actually maybe etched) into them genuine parts? I noticed the old ones have lockheed also stamped in.

 

How available are good secondhand units, or are they all as bad as my old ones?

 

How difficult/expensive is it to switch over to disc brakies? I suppose good serviceable parts from a donor car would be the way to go.

 

I'm running 12" wheels, so probably standard parts would do for the conversion. I didn't want to convert, though as the car is almost stock.

 

Mart.

 

 

[alex-95]

I can't help with the drum adjusters  but you should be able to find a set of 8.4 discs with driveshafts fairly easily but you then wont be able to fit 10"s back on if you want to without refitting the drums or converting to 7.5" discs.

[wile e coyote]

Swapping to standard 8.4" brakes really easy - especially so if you're already running on 12" wheels - simply a matter of popping the top & bottom balljoints & track rod arm and removing the old hoses ....discs will widen the track (I'm guessing the rear on your car already spacered  to avoid fouling - needs about on inch a side - per later spacered drums) so you'll probably have to fit arches - the factory special type are cheap & easy...

You need to shop for complete assemblies - drive shafts, hubs, discs & calipers - and a new set of hoses for disc brakes...... once a decent set sourced about an hour to swap and bleed....huge improvement over drums..... principally in the comfort you will actually stop......

[82hle]

I'm going to give it one more go with a new backplate carefully selected by the vendor. I don't really want to convert to discs (for the moment at least), Fingers crossed it will be third time lucky. If it doesn't feel right when it arrives I won't try and fit it.

 

Mart.

[82hle]

I had a note from the vendor saying that they have no confidence in any of the rh units in stock, and have withdrawn them from sale. All these parts are genuine, as in they are made by the company that now owns what was ap's old brakes business. I believe all the vendors sell the same parts, all are "genuine".

 

I managed to find a good usable original unit locally and have now fitted that. I'm a dab hand at the job now, had the replacement part fitted in less than an hour and the duff part posted back to where I got it from. The seller has been great about it and was very pleased to be warned of potentially unsafe brakes parts.

 

Mart.

[carbon]

Sounds like the vendor you have been dealing with has been very reasonable, and has done everything to try an resolve the situation.

 

Appears to me that the quality control at the manufacturer is not up to scratch. This is a safety critical part, and if this was a 'modern' car they would be issuing a recall notice with all the associated recall costs being passed back to the manufacturer of the faulty parts.

[Dr s]

Is it possible to get a punch down by the face of the adjuster and give it a good tap to have something to work against? I tried the replacement adjusters once. Never again, absolutely awful things