Good evening all. The saga of my Felicia continues! I've managed to successfully fix the front end - new shocks, disk rotors, lower control arms - now it's time for the back end which failed the annual inspection through uneven rear braking and rusted long brake lines. I've rebuilt the rear brakes both sides with new wheel cyliders, shoes, springs etc.....

I've bought a set of replacement rear brake lines and hoses, including the long lines from the master cylinder. It appears that I need to drop the fuel tank to be able to get to the brake line that runs across the top of the fuel tank. I've been able to gain access to the top of the tank by removing the rear seat and cover plate (I've depressurised the fuel system first) but now I need to drain the tank, which is almost half full and would appreciate some advice on the best way. I've tried a flexible pipe down the fuel filler, but can't seem to get it into the actual fuel level to syphon it out, despite the pipe going down a long way. One alternative is to pull out the fuel pump from the top of the tank and syphon from there, but there is very little room to get the supply and return pipes off to unscrew the 'jam jar' lid as per the attached photo. But if that's the only way......

The other problem is that it also seems necessary to remove the exhaust pipe from the cat converter backwards (which I've already done) to be able to drop the tank and also to improve the access to those long brake pipes.

The connections around the rear brake pipes/hoses are badly rusted so I'm doubtful I'll be able to unscrew those, but as I have replacements I'm not unduly worried there, but of course all the bolts holding the handbrake cables & fuel tank straps are also corroded and will probably be b......s to loosen.

Does anyone have any experience of doing this job on their Felicia and can offer advice? I'm running against a time restriction, as the car is due for a re-check at the Swedish MOT equivalent before the end of next week. At least I'm a pensioner and have all week free to do the work.....

Any and all suggestions/hints/tips very welcome

Well, that was fun! Just a quick update to remind myself never to rely on the Haynes manual. So many hoses and connections not even mentioned in the section of fuel tank removal..... In the end I managed to get off the filler hose at the tank and as the tank was less than half full I managed to syphon out around 10 liters of fuel through that opening before removing the rest of the hoses attached to the top of the tank and not visible/mentioned in the Haynes manual and lowering the tank with the use of a trolley jack. Still have a couple of nuts holding the heat shield in place (which I would have liked to have removed before the tank) but I should now be able to attack them better now the tank is out of the way. Looks like I might have to replace a section of the fuel line as well as the brakes, as that is corroded in places ......

23 minutes ago, Sympol said:

never to rely on the Haynes manual

 

The Haynes is for a driver that just wants to know the basics (of the basics) and do only few things, if you want to go further does not help you.

Does these attachments help?

 

 

Some more.

Thanks for those images - will certainly help when it's time to put it all back together. Taking a break now for today, carry on tomorrow.....