Life on the edge - the Diary of a C5

[bobins]

I had a similar one at the weekend working on a 4 year old car. 2 caliper bracket bolts per side and only accessible with a 3/8" ratchet - one of them took all I had to shift it, and I'm not a small lad, and one on the other side was gummed up with threadlock I'm suffering the consequences today with a few pulled muscles in places I don't usually hurt

[Xantianut]

Hmm.

Having split an impact socket, Daddy has ordered new brake bolts and is planning on cutting the old ones off then levering off the remains of the old callipers. Whoever did these last either had shares in Loctite or did not believe in Not Screwing The Next Guy. Papa worked briefly for APT motors in Leeds who are Citroen specialists and he reckons they never needed the stuff on brakes so long as the bolts got a decent twist of torque. I have been bodged by people! But Papa is putting the bodges right.

Incidentally he has found that, now that the remains of the mullered pin have flown off into some boscage that the suspension piston rod has rusted solid into the roll bar cup. Levers have failed to shift it and he is thinking of removing the cylinder unless someone knows anything that might work?

I will have a day off tomorrow while we wait for the new bolts. My new callipers come tomorrow.

Love

Otterchops

[Hell Razor5543]

Otterchops, you might ant to suggest to Daddy that he also gets some gasket paper. C5s suffer from that weird corrosion that affected their predecessor, the Xantia, and over time it will push the calliper off line. Putting some gasket paper between the calliper and the rear arm should reduce the electrolytic process that causes the corrosion (and might eliminate it). I did this on my first C5, but never got to see if it worked, as I found that her brakes were more effective than that of a more modern Mondeo in the wet, when it then went firmly into the back of her.

https://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/ ... hp?t=38467

[Xantianut]

Hello, Friends!!!

Papa has made gaskets for the rear of my new calipers already, Unka James, and has a nice, big tin of grease ready to smear all over my new brakes and bolts. He has ordered a Stud Extractor to remove the remains of the old bolts. He has also several spare gas canisters for his blowtorch. Whoever did them last time did things differently to Papa who always says "Never screw the next guy."

And not just because he IS the next guy.

A large box arrived today from a company called BX Parts in Holland. It contained two clips for the back suspension and a bag of sweets for Daddy. They'll be better than the split pins I have in now.

Just waiting for the extractor now and he can get busy, venting anger and frustration and wreaking havoc with my brakes.

Should be OK in the end.

Love

Otterchops.

[Xantianut]

Hello, Friends!

Papa continues to visit violence on my back brakes.

He has cut through the bolts and started to lever off the remains of my offside caliper. The top half cracked open easily enough but the lower half is firmly stuck. His blowtorch cannot deliver enough heat but he has sprayed the whole thing with penetrating oil and hammered in some wedges hoping to hear a bang overnight as the rust bond breaks. Failing that, he will cut along the seam and use his pry bar in there and use that. He has belted my caliper with his massive hammer but to,no avail.

He will get there,

He has described whoever fitted these brakes as "Hillbillies!" That's a new one on me and beyond all the profanity. Which is scary. When you think about it.

Just as well he builds model trains. He's too dumb to know when he's beaten and too stubborn to admit it.

Love

Otterchops.

[CitroJim]

Gosh! They're being very recalcitrant

Fingers crossed...

[Hell Razor5543]

Otterchops, what I think Daddy needs is a blowtorch and an Aston Super Wrench (of which I have a set of four). Heating up the remnants of the bolt until it is nice and hot, and then use a Super Wrench to 'grab' the bolt and turn it. I would be surprised if the wrench were to break!

[Xantianut]

He's got the blowtorch and has used it. He gave up after just "cracking" the outer caliper but he's threatening further grinder action tomorrow.

Aston Super Wrench? That's a new one on him!

[CitroJim]

Fingers crossed Otter

Aston Super Wrench? That's a new one on him!

Me too! Tell us more James

[Hell Razor5543]

This is an Aston Super Wrench. They say that, so long as there is one flat surface, it can get a decent grip and turn it. Experience shows me that, if the thing to be turned is not flimsy, a flat surface is not a necessary requirement. An advert on QVC for them had a guy set two on a scaffolding pole and then use them to do pull-ups;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255126744988 ... %7Ciid%3A1

And here is an advert (from 2002) for them (I have the set of four shown);



I have been able to use one to undo the ball joint from a drop link when it seized (and me without an angle grinder or blow torch).

[CitroJim]

This is an Aston Super Wrench. They say that, so long as there is one flat surface, it can get a decent grip and turn it. Experience shows me that, if the thing to be turned is not flimsy, a flat surface is not a necessary requirement.

Ahh yes They can be very, very good indeed James. A modern update on the old traditional 'Footprints'

I have a set of three and many a time they've dug me out of a hole

[Xantianut]

Hello, friends!!

That was painful!

Papa has finally removed my right hand brake using mega heat and serious brute force. He has mullered the cutting face of his cold chisel and bent a screwdriver but it is OFF!! He can inflict serious force with that big hammer and his blow torch. There was a couple of mm thickness of white aluminium corrosion between the caliper which was cleared with his big hammer, screwdriver and cold chisel. The top bolt was quite badly bent and it is stuck in his stud extractor but he has an idea for that. No doubt a big hammer and brute force will be involved. But then once the 2nd stud is out then he can rebuild the brake.

Next step will involve the other stud an then rebuilding.

Love

Otterchops.

A very achy little girl indeed.....

[Xantianut]

Hello, Friends!!!

The other bolt is OUT!!! He found a spanner in his big, heavy toolbox that fitted the outside of the stud extractor then, once he'd remembered it was a left hand thread (TWIT!!!) the stud came out despite being bent and having to grip the bend to do the job. The other stud came out without too much trouble and the pile of googats beneath me grows. He says he will cut the other caliper off before fitting the new ones. No,doubt this will mean lots of heat and seriously meaty blows from his BIG hammer.

It will be worth it though. I want to be able to take Papa and Mama plus my Hounds to new and exciting places. Papa has promised me he will post a pic of the new brake with the googats on the floor. Not recommended if you are on strong medication.....

He is cuddling his Hounds now. At least Lily's barking for her Papa masks my screams!!!

Love

Otterchops

[Dormouse]

Loving this

[CitroJim]

Great progress Otter