Help!-Brake Hose Connectors

[S3Swiss]

Following on from my post re different connectors front and rear on my S3...now getting told 2 different stories on the connection of the s/s hose into the calipers. Goodridge say I should have the same type of connection as on the old flexi-hose. The TVR dealer who supplied my replacement Goodridge kit said the ones he sent (not the same as the old flexi) were fine!
Anyone fitted one of these kits themselves? I had nice email from Nic Bowman with same problem, which suggests Goodridge may be sending out duff kits. Can anyone else back-up or contradict this? Would like some more feedback before I confront the TVR dealer and Goodridge.

[mel-s3]

I had a full set of 6 S/S Goodridge hoses made up at a local hydraulic hose stockist. The caliper ends they fitted were similar to that on the old hoses, but not the same, the cone ends on the Goodridge were more acute to that of the originals. The suppliers took a look in their catalogue and told me they were the only thing that Goodridge manufactured simialr to that of the originals, and in their opinion they should seal fine. They did go on to say that they could put another type of fitting on the end, one that sealed with a copper washer/dowty washer on to the machined surface around the thread on the caliper. Anyway I stuck with the former, which tuned out fine. Hope this helps.

[nicbowman]

Hi, Goodridge kits are definately wrong, but they do make the right parts. The caliper needs a rotating connector, that spins and allows the pipe to be kept still whilst doing up. Get back onto Goodridge, they matched my old ones and my vendor was happy to liaise. Nic

[mel-s3]

nicbowman said:

The caliper needs a rotating connector, that spins and allows the pipe to be kept still whilst doing up.Nic

The originals don't have these. Are you fitting one S/S hose and discarding the funny s shape copper brake pipe section in the centre, it may make more sense then.

[S3Swiss]

Ta for replies - lost my internet connection in between! The kit I got sounds the same as the one Nic was sent in Nov 04. This kit is supposedly a 'direct replacement' for the 2 pieces of flexi-hose at the front on each side and the 1 at the rear. I've opted to keep the short length of solid tube on the upright as per the original and go for fitting the 2 seperate s/s hose lengths. This is so I have enough flex to remove the caliper when working on the brakes although I understand the logic behind the single s/s hose option as well. My main concern is the integrity of the connection into the caliper. As Nic says, my previous experience of s/s hoses (on rally cars) is that the final union into the caliper has a 'banjo' union (same as on the S fuel filter). Using the correct bolt (with a double-flared concave end to it), this will give a seal as good as the original flex-hose connection fitting. I think I'll speak to the TVR dealer tomorrow and sort out a replacement. It surprises me that Goodridge are still supplying this kit given the issues Nic raised in his letter (hose too long causing rubbing on tyre, wrong connections). All part of joys of owning a unique vehicle!

[S3Swiss]

Just to complete the thread..spoke today to 'Ian' at Goodridge UK. He is the man who assembles the kits from pre-made lengths of s/s hose and is the UK distributor for Goodridge although he doesn't actually work for them (confusing). He based the kit on using the Ford Sierra (or similar) caliper which definitely has a concave insert for connection. This is why the kit has a male convex end to the caliper hose. Therefore, the oddity is why TVR used a convex ended flexi-hose in the first place, but I guess that may have been what they had on the shelves..! The s/s hose kit will therefore give a good seal, although as mentioned in earlier posts, the extra rigidity of the hose may make removing the caliper trickier.