I was cruising fleabay, as you do when you are bored and everyone has gone to bed, and I came across a set of Hydraulic brakes for the Baja. I had seen many other sets about and the price had always been a bit off putting.
Not a lot of reviews by anyone I knew or had heard of, and after having mechanical brakes on my 5B ss and having them work like a charm, really hadn't needed to get anything better.
Long story short, I found a complete set up by a No-Name Chinese company for less then $100 delivered, and the dollar was good, so I thought why not?
I had ordered the brake kit back in early July, but after having a heart attack a little later that month, I forgot about them arriving. I get out of hospital to find a heap of treats I had spoilt myself with, all waiting for me on my return.
I really wasn't up to fitting the brakes at that time, so I threw them in the tool box.
About a fortnight ago, I fitted them up to the 5SC, Caliper went on easily, although I installed them with the pipes to the top, rather than they way they were oriented in the diagram.
The lines coming in were to the bottom and I wanted them away from possible snags.
The lines were quite stiff and the fittings are all push together style that lock into place and seal really well.
The master cylinder is a simple fit up, just mark a hole 7mm in and 7mm forward of the right hand engine mount and drill a 5.2mm hole, one bolt from underneath and it is done, so I thought.
Bleeding...what a nightmare.
The system needs to be bled at the master cylinder, calipers and the lines all seperately, there is no easy way.
First remove the 2 screws on the top of the master and bleed a little fluid through it and replace one of the screws, then with the plunger out to its maximum throw, you need to force the fluid through the system with a syringe, the bleeders at the calipers need to be removed and and once filled completely the system needs to be sealed and gravity bled overnight.
The instructions fail to mention this and it took me a while to work out how to get it right.
Add to that the system leaked like a second hand fridge, the o-rings in the master were ripped and chunked as if they were too hard and had been broken while being assembled.
I used a set of 6.5mm o-rings to replace them and then discovered the hole is only about 6.3mm so as I inserted the o-rings a small sliver of material shaved off each of them, but they sealed up and no more leaks.
All up I would say the system is a nightmare, well designed but poorly assembled and the instructions are next to useless, but for under $100 Aussie dollars what can you expect.
They work, not as well as the mechanical brakes but they do slow the 5SC down, unlike the stock brake that does bugger all.
I will be fitting a stronger servo this week to see if that makes any difference, but not all that hopeful, I think I will be getting another set of Mechanicals for the 5SC
Not a lot of reviews by anyone I knew or had heard of, and after having mechanical brakes on my 5B ss and having them work like a charm, really hadn't needed to get anything better.
Long story short, I found a complete set up by a No-Name Chinese company for less then $100 delivered, and the dollar was good, so I thought why not?
I had ordered the brake kit back in early July, but after having a heart attack a little later that month, I forgot about them arriving. I get out of hospital to find a heap of treats I had spoilt myself with, all waiting for me on my return.
I really wasn't up to fitting the brakes at that time, so I threw them in the tool box.
About a fortnight ago, I fitted them up to the 5SC, Caliper went on easily, although I installed them with the pipes to the top, rather than they way they were oriented in the diagram.
The lines coming in were to the bottom and I wanted them away from possible snags.
The lines were quite stiff and the fittings are all push together style that lock into place and seal really well.
The master cylinder is a simple fit up, just mark a hole 7mm in and 7mm forward of the right hand engine mount and drill a 5.2mm hole, one bolt from underneath and it is done, so I thought.
Bleeding...what a nightmare.
The system needs to be bled at the master cylinder, calipers and the lines all seperately, there is no easy way.
First remove the 2 screws on the top of the master and bleed a little fluid through it and replace one of the screws, then with the plunger out to its maximum throw, you need to force the fluid through the system with a syringe, the bleeders at the calipers need to be removed and and once filled completely the system needs to be sealed and gravity bled overnight.
The instructions fail to mention this and it took me a while to work out how to get it right.
Add to that the system leaked like a second hand fridge, the o-rings in the master were ripped and chunked as if they were too hard and had been broken while being assembled.
I used a set of 6.5mm o-rings to replace them and then discovered the hole is only about 6.3mm so as I inserted the o-rings a small sliver of material shaved off each of them, but they sealed up and no more leaks.
All up I would say the system is a nightmare, well designed but poorly assembled and the instructions are next to useless, but for under $100 Aussie dollars what can you expect.
They work, not as well as the mechanical brakes but they do slow the 5SC down, unlike the stock brake that does bugger all.
I will be fitting a stronger servo this week to see if that makes any difference, but not all that hopeful, I think I will be getting another set of Mechanicals for the 5SC