Long long ago in an MOT station far far away my old bus failed its test on (amongst other things) a leaky front wheel cylinder. The other trifles such as the corroded spring hangers and loose water tank were sorted out that week end and it was off to the local motor factor for a new wheel cylinder and set of shoes. Everything fitted and adjusted it was back to the man in the pit, welding fine, water tank no longer posing a threat to other motorists but the brakes were pulling to one side. Out on the car park everything was checked and re-adjusted and back on the brake tester - fail. Back at home everything was off again. The MOT man mentioned leading shoe and when checked it looked like I had managed toput the shoes on the wrong way on one side, dohh. Back to see the man, 'what a dope' eh I said 'shoes on the wrong feet' jokes came out, but all is well now surely - no, still pulling to the right. OK lets look at this calmly and logically ahhhg. Everything was renewed except the off side wheel cylinder, must be a problem with that, lets have it to bits. Trouble was it was like new, with no sign of leaks or binding. A decision was made to swap everything from one side to the other in an attemp to isolate the problem, it was only when I had both wheel cylinders in my hand did the penny drop, the new cylinder had a smaller bore than the old one. Back at the motor factors the spotty erk behind the counter got his catalogue out and announced there where two types, the only difference being the diameter of the bore, no s**t. I'll have one of them then, sorry not in stock but can get it tomorrow. Great, I'll be back. He informed me that there will be an extra amount to pay, just a couple of pence I thought, no. The original one was £8, the prop per one - only the bore different- £24, where did that come from? (I know it sounds cheap today but this was about 12 years ago). The happy end to this tail was that old Harvey passed and the very understanding MOT man didn't charge me for the multiple re-tests he carried out, nice man.
This anomaly is probably well known by the more experience Commerades butI guess the moral of this rather long winded ramble is to check things thoroughly, especially brakes, before fitting. As my old father-in-law, a joiner by trade, used to say 'measure twice, cut once'.
This anomaly is probably well known by the more experience Commerades butI guess the moral of this rather long winded ramble is to check things thoroughly, especially brakes, before fitting. As my old father-in-law, a joiner by trade, used to say 'measure twice, cut once'.
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