NStarted the week by collecting the front brake shoes from Auto and Industrial Friction in Arlesey, very pleased with their work. Next, I finished welding the N/S front brake backplate , then made a bracket which I could attach to a convenient stud and weld to the new backplate to to prevent the bottom half vibrating about. After that I prepared and primed the new backplate with red oxide. While that was curing, I refitted the O/S front brake shoes. Once the primer was fully cured, I applied two coats of silver Hammerite. Whilst waiting for each coat to dry, I started work on the N/S front brake servo, cleaning off years of filth and corrosion and removing the rusty air intake. I next removed the brass vacuum inlet pipe, which needed a lot of heat to undo the screws, and loosened the end cap screws two of which needed a fair amount of heat too. I snapped the head off one of them, which will require a nut welding on the end to remove.
Monthly Archives: April 2026
26/4/2026
Started this week by finishing off the welds for the new N/S front brake backplate, then removed the N/S front brake servo motor to provide access for clamping and welding the new backplate and so that it can be reconditioned. I also ground a bit off the end of the beading below the windscreen, to allow the radiator shroud to sit flush with the dash panel. Tacked the upper half of the new backplate to what remained of the original one and then checked the drum fitted within its arc. After a slight adjustment, I welded it in place then made a template for the lower half, after removing the rest of the rotted remains of the original backplate. I then shaped the new lower half to fit around the stub axle carrier and tacked it to the new upper half.
19/4/2026
Started the week by punching a hole in the top half of the replacement front brake back plate/dust shield, then welded the rim onto it. Punched the lower half, then started to weld the rim but ran out of welding wire at the end of the day so completed this the following day. Change of tack as I had another pair of hands with me, we reinstalled the radiator and sited it correctly so the decorative shroud sits against the dash. I then just about finished grinding back the welds on the new N/S front bake back plate.