Brake pad lifespan

Exwindsurfer said:
Engines where a lot easy to work them days .
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My first vehicle was a Bedford 8 cwt Van that had a starting handle; for good reason ... :rolleyes: Mind you, I paid only £45 for it and that included a full service and 5 new tyres after the Workshop Manager [future father-in-law] and mechanic [Dad] booked it in for the work before realising that it was to be sold from the fleet ...

£15 for a respray via one of Dad's trade contacts, and I had a set of wheels!

Steve
 
Pudsey Bear said:
Engines are not that different from back then, still Suck Squeeze Bang Blow, just more crap attached to them.
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While some components/functions are the same most new stuff is no longer something for DIY folks to do. You need to be much more of an enthusiast and get hold of specialist kit (and learn how to use it) these days. That’s all doable though but for me there just isn’t access any more. Open the bonnet on a lot of new cars and you don’t even see the engine. So many sensors as well these days. We used to have a laugh at the amount of folks who used to change crank/cam sensors because simple diagnostics showed a fault, it always would as it registered with engine stopped not running (Vauxhall Vectra).
 
Pudsey Bear said:
Engines are not that different from back then, still Suck Squeeze Bang Blow, just more crap attached to them.
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I think that's only true to a degree, Kev. The original style of engine was totally reliant on physical parts, so it was possible/necessary to whip out the failed compnent [or strip down its innards and replace the broken spring/leaking seal etc], slap a new part in, and go. Modern engines have sensors galore, electronics that emulate the performance of a petrol engine with the economy of a diesel, and a software package that makes most maintenance a specialist function, and replacement of components a very expensive set of pcbs, sensors et seq. Feeler gauges [or foil from a fag packet in an emergency, and home made static timing lights, and tappet adjustments are museum processes

Steve
 
marchie said:
I think that's only true to a degree, Kev. The original style of engine was totally reliant on physical parts, so it was possible/necessary to whip out the failed compnent [or strip down its innards and replace the broken spring/leaking seal etc], slap a new part in, and go. Modern engines have sensors galore, electronics that emulate the performance of a petrol engine with the economy of a diesel, and a software package that makes most maintenance a specialist function, and replacement of components a very expensive set of pcbs, sensors et seq. Feeler gauges [or foil from a fag packet in an emergency, and home made static timing lights, and tappet adjustments are museum processes

Steve
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I remember when I got my first Saab back in around 1980, mate was a mechanic at the dealers and said it was fine to do anything I wanted but DO NOT touch the Bosch fuel injection kit. Seems they were somewhat specialist setup lol.
Point of interest maybe, was that garage that developed water injection that Saab picked up and actually fitted to their cars, was then Rock Bay garage at Burbage just outside Buxton.
 
nabsim said:
I remember when I got my first Saab back in around 1980, mate was a mechanic at the dealers and said it was fine to do anything I wanted but DO NOT touch the Bosch fuel injection kit. Seems they were somewhat specialist setup lol.
Point of interest maybe, was that garage that developed water injection that Saab picked up and actually fitted to their cars, was then Rock Bay garage at Burbage just outside Buxton.
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I remember reading in a Car Magazine about the water injection for cooling; IIRC, it was just a drop at a time and it was transferred from the Washer Bottle [or an extension thereof; don't remember if screenwash was going to be problematical, just recall thinking what an ingenious idea it was!]

Steve
 
marchie said:
I remember reading in a Car Magazine about the water injection for cooling; IIRC, it was just a drop at a time and it was transferred from the Washer Bottle [or an extension thereof; don't remember if screenwash was going to be problematical, just recall thinking what an ingenious idea it was!]

Steve
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Not the same as Saab did Steve. They injected a fine mist into the inlet manifold to give a power increase, quite significant as well but you ran the risk of wrecking the engine if water ran out.
Anyone who had a two stroke motorcycle back in the day can appreciate how much more power you got on a foggy day :)
 
I didn't say they were not different, I said "Engines are not that different from back then" Of course they are different, a lot lighter due to more aluminium, more efficient due to smaller tolerances, belts instead of chains mostly, better valve technology, more valves in some cases, but most of the changes are outside
 
W
Pudsey Bear said:
I didn't say they were not different, I said "Engines are not that different from back then" Of course they are different, a lot lighter due to more aluminium, more efficient due to smaller tolerances, belts instead of chains mostly, better valve technology, more valves in some cases, but most of the changes are outside
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as a sign of things to come when Honda started fitting nicosil (sp?) barrels on I think it was their NSR. Who on earth thought it was good to not be able to retire a barrel? Think that was the start of the throw away era for me, not that I had an NSR although Caz did insist I bought her an Italian import NSR 125 RRR (not sure how many r’s but there seemed a lot). Personally I would rather eat worms than ride a Honda 😂😂😂
 
nabsim said:
Not the same as Saab did Steve. They injected a fine mist into the inlet manifold to give a power increase, quite significant as well but you ran the risk of wrecking the engine if water ran out.
Anyone who had a two stroke motorcycle back in the day can appreciate how much more power you got on a foggy day :)
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My IIRC was obviously not correct, Neil! As soon as I saw 'fine mist', it rang a bell! My excuse is that it was around 30 years ago that I read the article, and 2 of my 3 brain cells have dies since ... :rolleyes:

Steve
 
nabsim said:
W

as a sign of things to come when Honda started fitting nicosil (sp?) barrels on I think it was their NSR. Who on earth thought it was good to not be able to retire a barrel? Think that was the start of the throw away era for me, not that I had an NSR although Caz did insist I bought her an Italian import NSR 125 RRR (not sure how many r’s but there seemed a lot). Personally I would rather eat worms than ride a Honda 😂😂😂
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A third class ride is still better than a first class walk though
 
nabsim said:
I had brake warning light come on my Sprinter must be getting on 4 years ago. Contacted local garage I used before I left Peak District and booked it in. They got everything that may have been needed to change the lot front and back (sale or return with factors). When it came to the work they changed front disks and pads and rear pads for a grand total of I think £92 including parts, layout and VAT.

Highly recommend Stella Motors in Dove Holes if anyone is in the Buxton area and needs work doing. They used to charge me £28 for MOT as well 👍
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+1

I've used Stella for years and theyre a great bunch

All the landrovers AND the motorhome go there ....(so I'm not popular as the Moho ONLY just goes on the ramp lol )

If it fails ....it fails for a reason, they are knowledgeable and fair .
 
nabsim said:
Not the same as Saab did Steve. They injected a fine mist into the inlet manifold to give a power increase, quite significant as well but you ran the risk of wrecking the engine if water ran out.
Anyone who had a two stroke motorcycle back in the day can appreciate how much more power you got on a foggy day :)
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4 strokes as well Neil, I could always notice a difference on my old Super Rocket on a damp day.
 
Interesting about cold and damp making an engine run better ....

Cold air is obviously more dense so better combustion ...

The water drops from water injection OR damp air ....
Whilst reducing density of the intake air (thus reducing efficiency )
Is compensated for by the water droplets
Get heated during combustion and turn into steam and increase the force of the fuel burning on the piston .
 
The cars racing at Lemans find the same thing, at night the air is more dense and the cars perform better, sort of like a natural inter-cooled turbo.
 
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