Motoring questions you are afraid to ask.

[ferrarimadman]

Interesting theory - but that's actually not the case: the braking system on all vehicles has brake lines of different lengths and bore diameter. As long as you're dealing with an incompressible fluid, the pressure is the same everywhere. That's why hydraulic pipes make for a better linkage mechanism than wires where longer runs stretch more.

Thanks for the information lads! I'll (for the first attempt anyway) not try and re-invent the wheel and replace like for like!

Second question I have is, does anyone have any ideas/tips on how to fill small holes in the floor? Tek screws would have been in these holes I'd say and I can fill the larger ones with a kit of grommets I've bought but I cannot seem to find a kit with small enough grommets. Can anyone point me in the direction of a suitable kit of small grommets or something to seal these holes?

Example picture of the holes:
IMG_20210313_145029_6.jpg

[Johnny_Limerick]

These kind of things maybe.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/wheel-cover...06342597&psc=1
Id also make sure there is no exposed metal ..soak the holes in primer/paint rust converter if needs be etc.

[fez]

Why do automatic car washes introduce swirl shaped marks on cars when the brushes contact with the car is mostly linear?

[Type17]

There are tiny, linear scratches going in every direction all over the paint, but when you look at the paint reflected in a single light source (the sun, or a bulb) the ones that surround the sun's reflection catch the light the most, making it appear that there are only spiral scratches. If you move your head, the reflection of the sun will move across the panel, and other linear scratches will form a 'spiral' around the sun in the new position.

[fez]

Thanks!

[kmacb]

I'm looking at replacing the rear brake lines of my Mk1 Punto, looks like it was never done before (started with trying to replace the brake cylinder and has since escalated to this as per usual)

I see there is what I believe is a brake booster then the brake line goes from this booster down through a series of connections and bends down to the brake cylinder. From my uneducated view, there seems to be a lot of wasted lines and material. Could I just run the single line from the booster to the brake cylinder (obviously making sure it's all protected and no kinks in the line) or is there a reason for all those connections? Might there be something to do with hydraulics that I've missed? The lines is all the same size from the booster to the cylinder, just to my eye it seems to go through a circuitous route with a load of connections to facilitate this route...

The reason for the joins should be obvious, as it's much easier to replace a section, purchased as a spare part, rather than replace one continuous line (from master cyl to rear wheel for example).
Also these cars had a peculiar brake bias valve (different depending on year of manufacture) built into what might look like 'joins' in the line. Remove these and you could end up with a brake imbalance between front and rear. Plus the rear section on some models had a 'loop' in the line. Failure to retain the loop could cause the pipe to slightly flex and break.
From my experience, car manufacturers, even of budget cars like Fiat, knew what they were doing when they built them in the first place... 'stuff' is usually there for a reason.

[TRD3000GT]

Is this called a robinson square drive?

Why some many variations, torx, Allen..



Sent from my I4213 using Tapatalk

[Type17]

It’s a Robertson square drive.

Early fastener drives like flat-head screws and drivers had many shortcomings but were easy/cheap to make with the technology of the day.
As manufacturing tech improved, better fastener drives were (repeatedly) devised, but we’re also left with all the previous stuff on existing vehicles/machines.

[JohnRA]

In addition to your question. Torx is a trademark for Camcar Textron heads. Whether they're on a screwdriver or bit in a socket. Most likely the same when it comes to female torx sockets.

Allen is a brand name for hex keys. It's a bit like everyone calling sellotape, well sellotape. The best/original brand tends to be referred to regardless of who made it.

Allen brand keys are made by Apex Tool Group USA.

[-alan-]

Is this called a robinson square drive?

Why some many variations, torx, Allen..



Sent from my I4213 using Tapatalk

It’s a Robertson square drive.

Early fastener drives like flat-head screws and drivers had many shortcomings but were easy/cheap to make with the technology of the day.
As manufacturing tech improved, better fastener drives were (repeatedly) devised, but we’re also left with all the previous stuff on existing vehicles/machines.

We had an electrician doing some work at the house a while back. He was using a square head screwdriver (like that) and had a box of those square drive screws.
They were amazing bl00dy things - stick a screw on the end of the screwdriver and it holds it tightly there while you manoeuvre it into place horizontally, overhead or any orientation. That and the ability to torque it easily without the screwdriver blade slipping off the head. Just about the perfect combination for wood screws I think.

[pedrosixfour]

We've one tool in the garage with eight square drives of differing size (four each end) on it.

I'm not sure what its intended use was originally but in thirty years I think I've used it once. All the drives are too stubby to be of any bloody use.

Most of the square plugs I encounter are either ¼", ⅜" or ½". So an impact gun, rachet or extension gets used.

[-alan-]

We've one tool in the garage with eight square drives of differing size (four each end) on it.

I'm not sure what its intended use was originally but in thirty years I think I've used it once. All the drives are too stubby to be of any bloody use.

My oul boy would have been able to answer that in a flash - "That sounds like a Snifter-valve key set son." And following the invariable "What do you use one of those for ?" would have followed up with the punchline.."To change the gear-ratios on a racing turkey.."

[Murakami]

Anyone ever been as by a county council to show evidence of “six lashing rings” in a van conversion?

[cibo]

Anyone ever been as by a county council to show evidence of “six lashing rings” in a van conversion?

Was the guy who asked you wearing a gimp mask at the time?

[gofaster_s13]

Anyone ever been as by a county council to show evidence of “six lashing rings” in a van conversion?

Without measuring the vehicle I’d imagine 4 will be sufficient in a Cooper. There should be some in the boot floor already either in the floor itself or on the sides then use the bolting points for the original seat belt mounts to bolt in two more, there is one council which has started requesting them.

https://www.nsai.ie/images/uploads/c...ons-Rev-02.pdf