Has anyone successfully used S2 avant rear callipers on a S2 coupe? Without realising it, that’s what Ive done on my coupe! Cant seem to see any posts on this, other than one by Anton but I dont he did quite the same thing. Mine is the usual problem - handbrake actuator seized so needed replacement callipers.
I thought all Girling 38 callipers were the same and didn’t think too much of the fact that the handbrake cable actuator looked a little different - until I had it on the car and tried to connect the cable.
Which I now appreciate is where the difference lies between the two. On the coupe the cable is attached from the underneath whilst on the avant calliper, having different suspension, the cable is attached from the side and more on the top. The brake line is also in a slightly different place, but this didnt cause any problems as such The avant calliper also doesn’t have the problematic return spring on the outside part of housing, often not felt to be up to the job and usually the cause of the callipers failing.
I managed to get the cable into the actuator arm but to get it into position I had to remove it from its mounting above the wishbone and pull it over. As a result it’s pretty tight up against the bottom of the car, but the calliper seems to work ok. Couldnt get the cable to reach on the nearside so I ended up re-using the original caliper which wasnt as bad as I thought (tho I now know the handbrake isnt returning properly and I think the pads as seizing on
so this iwll have to replaced)
You can see the difference here (although these are not for the same side)
However, I’ve been warned of potential problems by my local garage who apparently had great difficulty bleeding the calliper also. Something to do with the bleed screw being in the wrong position and too high – though I don’t see how this would’ve been a problem
.
It was also mentioned that if the suspension were to bounce too much it could pull on the cable sufficiently to actually engage the parking brake. Also warned that there’s a danger of the cable simply rubbing through against the bottom of the car.
I think they will need to be replaced with coupe versions but I thought it might be worth asking if anyone else tried this either deliberately - or by mistake, like me!?
Cheers guys
Paul
I thought all Girling 38 callipers were the same and didn’t think too much of the fact that the handbrake cable actuator looked a little different - until I had it on the car and tried to connect the cable.
Which I now appreciate is where the difference lies between the two. On the coupe the cable is attached from the underneath whilst on the avant calliper, having different suspension, the cable is attached from the side and more on the top. The brake line is also in a slightly different place, but this didnt cause any problems as such The avant calliper also doesn’t have the problematic return spring on the outside part of housing, often not felt to be up to the job and usually the cause of the callipers failing.
I managed to get the cable into the actuator arm but to get it into position I had to remove it from its mounting above the wishbone and pull it over. As a result it’s pretty tight up against the bottom of the car, but the calliper seems to work ok. Couldnt get the cable to reach on the nearside so I ended up re-using the original caliper which wasnt as bad as I thought (tho I now know the handbrake isnt returning properly and I think the pads as seizing on
so this iwll have to replaced)You can see the difference here (although these are not for the same side)
However, I’ve been warned of potential problems by my local garage who apparently had great difficulty bleeding the calliper also. Something to do with the bleed screw being in the wrong position and too high – though I don’t see how this would’ve been a problem
. It was also mentioned that if the suspension were to bounce too much it could pull on the cable sufficiently to actually engage the parking brake. Also warned that there’s a danger of the cable simply rubbing through against the bottom of the car.
I think they will need to be replaced with coupe versions but I thought it might be worth asking if anyone else tried this either deliberately - or by mistake, like me!?
Cheers guys
Paul
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