Guest Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Having fitted the rear dedion tube, discs, caliper a etc I'm at a point where the handbrake had been attached but I still haven't attached the main brake hoses. On both sides of the car, the (copper?) pipes come out in the vicinity of where they need to connect to the caliper but are generally pointing in the wrong direction. Is the idea supposed to be to gently bend them around and feed them into the calipers? If so any suggestions on the best way to do it without busting the pipes? A picture showing how the RH side looks is below, note tue pipe on right side of image sticking directly up vertically. Rear brake line My only other thought was us there some kind of 90 degree elbow I'm not finding in the kit somewhere? All thoughts appreciated, Thanks Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin J Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 I had to gently bend mine, I found it pretty straightforward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesElliott Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Back in the old days, you had to bend the tube and attach it to the De Dion as well..... 😬 You may find a large socket helpful to push the pipe around to get a constant radius curve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Great thanks both, thought as much but just thought i'd check before I went and bent something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 The brake pipes bend easily (especially using the socket tip ). When I did mine, I placed the DD tube on the bench, and attached the ears and calipers temporarily (see here). That way, I could align the pipes with plenty of room for manoeuvre, all ready for final assembly (see here). Looking again at the Assembly Guide, Para 9.3 sort of implies to do this, but doesn't actually say so. Even though you've already fitted the DD tube, you should still have room to bend the pipes. JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted August 31, 2013 Member Share Posted August 31, 2013 Do people recommend pipe bending tools? I bought one that's like a pair of pliers with a blue plastic grooved wheel. (I've only bent brake pipes during the build and didn't get to a point where I decided if the tool helped or not.) What's the current thinking on fitting flexible pipes to the callipers? Thanks Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael H Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 I did a trial build on the bench like John V, see here. I bent the pipes carefully using a large diameter socket as a former, I seem to recall... Good luck Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domus Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Big socket here too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin J Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 What's the current thinking on fitting flexible pipes to the callipers? I think it would be an improvement. It would mean an extra joint each side but would make removal of callipers & checking/replacing brake pads easier. I believe a lot of the racers have flexible hoses to the rear brakes. Is it me or is Tom & co building this supersport R at a fair old pace. 😶🌫️ Perhaps you want it finished before this warm spell finishes. I was more like Captain Slow reading & re-reading the AG & filing tools! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesElliott Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Flexible hoses mandatory in our series - have had at least two instances of failures through fatigue, one of them resulting in a new chassis for the person who was hit by the person who had the brake issue... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin J Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Which part of the system failed due to fatigue Charles? Hose, pipe or calliper? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted August 31, 2013 Member Share Posted August 31, 2013 Thanks Caterham describe them as "replaces the copper brake pipe (ideal for racers)". Are there any disadvantages, other than cost, for non-racers? Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesElliott Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 The pipe into the rear caliper. The constant flexing causes fatigue failures. Disadvantages? I believe that braided hoses can in theory expand slightly under pressure so that feel might be reduced. Don't think anyone I know can actually notice any difference. And there are already braided hoses on the front of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative bluenose Posted August 31, 2013 Area Representative Share Posted August 31, 2013 Got flexible lines on mine. Available at reasonable cost from Caterham, I.e. about £50 for the three hoses. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Just do it. It's a no brainer tbh, don't forget that that the part of the calipers your brake lines are attached to, is the part that moves. Some people maintain, that this removes a small bit of the resistance to the calipers actually moving, but aside from that, it makes it a piece of piss to remove the calipers to fit new pads, and more importantly, to clean the slides. And you can do all this, without disconnecting the brake lines, and having to bleed the system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Just to be clear, do these flex hoses replace the entire pipe runs between the 3-way union on the DD tube and the calipers? JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesElliott Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative bluenose Posted August 31, 2013 Area Representative Share Posted August 31, 2013 Begs the question, why don't Caterham supply flexible hoses as standard? £50 makes it a no brainer Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Quoting CharlesElliott: YesTa. I take it these are the hoses here and here. But they seem to be shown the wrong way round (that is, LH shorter than RH)? JV Edited by - John Vine on 31 Aug 2013 19:21:26 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesElliott Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Agreed - but if you are ordering both you can't go wrong! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 So true! JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Quoting Martin Jeffrey: What's the current thinking on fitting flexible pipes to the callipers? I think it would be an improvement. It would mean an extra joint each side but would make removal of callipers & checking/replacing brake pads easier. I believe a lot of the racers have flexible hoses to the rear brakes. Is it me or is Tom & co building this supersport R at a fair old pace. 😶🌫️ Perhaps you want it finished before this warm spell finishes. I was more like Captain Slow reading & re-reading the AG & filing tools! There's two main drivers. Firstly I do, as you correctly point out, want it finished before the weather closes in but secondly, my weekends are going to be filled up pretty soon when the sport that I play gets going again for the season. I've also now booked for Caterham to collect the car on the 23rd Sept to do the post build check so it needs to be finished. So far things have gone pretty well although I did strip the thread on one of the drop links today so have had to buy a new one of those! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil66 Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Hmmm the "sport you play", very cagey... Rugby is away to begin... Tom Woodis Sounds very like Tom Woods... Am I close...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin J Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 I am enjoying your blog of the build Tom. I admire your honesty...if I stripped a thread or snapped something due to human error I think I would just leave that bit out of the blog! Some of the extra bits of trim that have to be added for the SVA seem daft to me, my build was only six years ago but quite a lot seems to have changed. With clear text & pictures I think your blog will be a good reference tool for any future kit builders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Fitted flexible hoses to mine a couple of years ago (thanks Richard). Cut the fixed pipes short and used standard flexi hoses off a 'regular' car. Makes life so much easier when doing maintenance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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