205 GTI Brake pipes corroded - easy repair?
Discussion
Had my 1.6 205 GTI in for an MOT last week and it failed on:
Nearside rear (main metal) Brake Pipe excessively corroded.
Offside rear (main metal) Brake Pipe excessively corroded.
Front Brakes imbalanced.
The car is in great condition other than the brakes, so its something I want to get sorted out. The garage are quoting approx 200 quid+ for parts and labour, but are not prepared to quote for the imbalanced front brakes without taking a closer look.
So..
Any ideas regarding the front imbalance - is it likely to be something as simple as the pads? Or is there a common issue on the 205s which might be occuring? (I have the wheels off yesterday - looks like the discs are fairly new, and the pads don't look too bad either, mileage on the car has been very low over the last couple of years - approx 1000-2000 miles per year)
And it appears the rear pipes corroding is fairly common on the 205s - how hard is this to do yourself, I assume the pipes need bending/fitting and everything needs bleeding. I have bled motorbike brakes plenty of times. Am I best to fork out for the kit to do the 205 or is it a job best done at the garage?
Any advice/tips appreciated.
Cheers
Jim
Nearside rear (main metal) Brake Pipe excessively corroded.
Offside rear (main metal) Brake Pipe excessively corroded.
Front Brakes imbalanced.
The car is in great condition other than the brakes, so its something I want to get sorted out. The garage are quoting approx 200 quid+ for parts and labour, but are not prepared to quote for the imbalanced front brakes without taking a closer look.
So..
Any ideas regarding the front imbalance - is it likely to be something as simple as the pads? Or is there a common issue on the 205s which might be occuring? (I have the wheels off yesterday - looks like the discs are fairly new, and the pads don't look too bad either, mileage on the car has been very low over the last couple of years - approx 1000-2000 miles per year)
And it appears the rear pipes corroding is fairly common on the 205s - how hard is this to do yourself, I assume the pipes need bending/fitting and everything needs bleeding. I have bled motorbike brakes plenty of times. Am I best to fork out for the kit to do the 205 or is it a job best done at the garage?
Any advice/tips appreciated.
Cheers
Jim
Funny you should bring this up as my 205 gti had pretty much exactly the same thing (failed on the rear brake line and advisory on the inbalanced from brakes).
I had a brand new line fitted (the whole length) and new fluid fitted at the cost of £100, the garage that performed the MOT quoted £220 cause they reckons they would have to drop the tank (not always needed).
In regards to the front brakes, i'd recommend upgrading to 1.9 calipers, you can keep the 1.6 disks and use 1.9 pads. You could probably pick up a set very cheap. I've managed to source a pair of calipers for free and disks / pads are £50-60ish and considered a good upgrade.
If you decide to stay with the 1.6 calipers, you could simply try new disks and pads and see if that sorts it- failing that you could get them rebuilt for under £100...
I swapped the engine over in my 205 (1.6 to mi16) but I still don't like touching brakes and would happily pay £100~ for them to be done by a pro who deals with them daily.
My brakes were JUST under the fail and they are imo dangerous... get them sorted chap!
I had a brand new line fitted (the whole length) and new fluid fitted at the cost of £100, the garage that performed the MOT quoted £220 cause they reckons they would have to drop the tank (not always needed).
In regards to the front brakes, i'd recommend upgrading to 1.9 calipers, you can keep the 1.6 disks and use 1.9 pads. You could probably pick up a set very cheap. I've managed to source a pair of calipers for free and disks / pads are £50-60ish and considered a good upgrade.
If you decide to stay with the 1.6 calipers, you could simply try new disks and pads and see if that sorts it- failing that you could get them rebuilt for under £100...
I swapped the engine over in my 205 (1.6 to mi16) but I still don't like touching brakes and would happily pay £100~ for them to be done by a pro who deals with them daily.
My brakes were JUST under the fail and they are imo dangerous... get them sorted chap!
Automec brake kit - £70.
For that you get the complete set of pre cut and flared pipes for your 205.
Removal of the fuel tank is an arse but you can remove it and fit those pipes in a couple of hours, working with the car on axle stands. I've done this twice now and it isn;t too difficult.
Worth buy the kit and replacing all as no doubt you'll find a find a few unions seized, then they twist, then you break, then you shout......
For that you get the complete set of pre cut and flared pipes for your 205.
Removal of the fuel tank is an arse but you can remove it and fit those pipes in a couple of hours, working with the car on axle stands. I've done this twice now and it isn;t too difficult.
Worth buy the kit and replacing all as no doubt you'll find a find a few unions seized, then they twist, then you break, then you shout......
Simes205 said:
Automec brake kit - £70.
For that you get the complete set of pre cut and flared pipes for your 205.
Removal of the fuel tank is an arse but you can remove it and fit those pipes in a couple of hours, working with the car on axle stands. I've done this twice now and it isn;t too difficult.
Worth buy the kit and replacing all as no doubt you'll find a find a few unions seized, then they twist, then you break, then you shout......
Cheers for the help/tips guys. I had looked at the Automec kit, certainly seems like the easiest option if I opt to do the job myself. For that you get the complete set of pre cut and flared pipes for your 205.
Removal of the fuel tank is an arse but you can remove it and fit those pipes in a couple of hours, working with the car on axle stands. I've done this twice now and it isn;t too difficult.
Worth buy the kit and replacing all as no doubt you'll find a find a few unions seized, then they twist, then you break, then you shout......
Just got to find a day off when I can get the car up on the stands! - I'll also have a look into the 1.9 calipers, I know there are a couple of companies who will take the old calipers as px against a reconditioned set.
Cheers again
Jim
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