I got another front brake master cylinder off eBay.  The size this time?  Back to the original 1/2″.  Increasing the size of the master cylinder is a big mistake, don’t do it.  Instead, replace the caliper seals and then, if you still have problems, consider Dot 5 brake fluid (but satisfy yourself that this is a good idea).  There is a stamp on the reservoir saying Dot 3 or 4 only and the replacement caliper seals probably say something similar.  I’m keeping an eye on things but my seals do not appear to be dissolving so far.

Changed the front brake pads in both calipers, too, and finally have pads for the rear.  What with the two new tyres, Silver is going to be like a new bike.

Managed to negotiate LA with brake light permanently on. Switch and adjustable lever come from different parents but had been working together. A bit of scotch pad from the gopro has fixed it.

Now to have a go at TuneECU with my new OBD2 connector…

Blue gloves are for handling noxious substances and for role-play

Rear wheel bearing; this is one of the old ones.  Turns out people are right about jet washing.

Rear Wheel Bearings Replaced

New tools:

• Hammer (second of trip) – discarded
• Big screwdriver – discarded (bent)

Bearings went from noisy but no play to, surprisingly, noisy with play.  The load is so heavy, I worried they could actually collapse.

I did the work on a camposite after buying the second hammer of the trip and a big screwdriver to get the dust seals off.  I wish I’d bought new dust seals because they bend when you prise them off.

I was very conscious of the noise because it took a lot of hammering to shift the buggers.  Nonetheless, the only people that spoke to me came to make sure I had everything I needed.  One guy even brought Helen and I a beer each.  This is typical of Americans.

Front Brakes

New tools:

• Set of picks, as used by a locksmith or a scouser
• DOT 5 fluid

Front caliper seals replaced. Pistons so stuck I needed the hydraulics to squeeze them out… which is okay for the first one.  To shift the others, I replaced the first piston, poured back in the crappy old fluid that I had cought in a pan (no new stuff to spare), and then brought all the pistons to the brink of falling out in a grown-up game of closer.

You can get the seals out with a terminal screwdriver but it’s better to have a set of picks.  You then need to clear out all of the limescale from the seal seat; you can’t do this without something hook-shaped, hence the need for picks.

I used DOT 5 fluid.  It doesn’t mix with the old stuff and it may rot the seals… I’ll just keep an eye on it.

Front master piston replaced. Cheap master cylinder off ebay came with a replacement piston for free.  This really fills me full of confidence.

Utterly knackered now but at least there was a nice sunset.