Got my hands on a set of 312mm TT brakes from Golfturbo. Two problems....

1) Can I hell got the hose off one of them, the other one came off dead easy, but the second one is being a right pain, I've put wd40 on it and left it for a few hours this afternoon but it still won't budge. Looks like I'm going to have to paint around it.

2) Hammerite smooth green from where? None in Focus, Wilkinsons or B&Q. Tomorrow I'll try Halfords. Everywhere has Dark Green, but nobody has smooth green. if I get no joy there it looks like I'll have to turn to Ebay and buy a big tin. (HAMMERITE SMOOTH GREEN METAL PAINT big 750ml 0.75L can on eBay, also, Paint Varnish, DIY Materials, Home Garden (end time 02-May-08 14:39:27 BST)

i got mines from halfords, smooth green

Ditto Halfords. Would recommend you paint them with primer first - I didn't and even after two coats of green there were thin patches where the metal was visible underneath.

I concur on the smooth green - I spent a good few hours yesterday looking for it, and could only find dark green. Its an outrage. :(

Well I found Smooth green in halfords this morning, took the safe option and got the primer/undercoat as well. So I currently have four bits of undercoated metal hanging in my garage. The green goes on next week sometime, perhaps one bit of metal a night!

I gave up on getting the tight hose off, I've painted around it.

Usually the main superstore DIY places have plenty of smooth green hammerite.

I assume the brake hose is the one bolted to the caliper you are struggling with. It should be a 12mm banjo bolt yes? Hold it in a vice/workmate and it should just crack off.

Halfords for smooth green for me although i've not been able to find any in spray cans for a while, does work a lot better spraying, get much better coverage and goes on first time.

Even works on engines

whats the best way to mask off the piston and machine areas?

I got some 312mm calipers and carriers the other day and inside the piston part there is some surface rust, is it ok to remove this with wd40?

I am not technically minded what should be inside part of the piston look like on mine its just smooth machined metal.

I need to get some discs and pads too I was thinking of going for these discs

SEAT LEON AUDI A3 GOLF BORA GROOVED BRAKE DISCS 312MM on eBay, also Brake Components, Performance Tuning Parts, Car Tuning Styling, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 30-Apr-08 20:45:00 BST)

and these pads

AUDI TT FRONT BRAKE PADS MINTEX on eBay, also, Audi, Car Parts, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 28-Apr-08 17:37:59 BST)

what do you reckon?

also how much would an indepedent charge to fit?

I dont have a problem with fitting but its the bleeding of the brakes I am not sure on.

Joel

p.s. my caliper looks like this but not painted

It has a hole there in the middle

I assume the brake hose is the one bolted to the caliper you are struggling with. It should be a 12mm banjo bolt yes? Hold it in a vice/workmate and it should just crack off.

Yup, smallest socket I've got is a 13mm, at least that's what I think it said, that was yesterday! I'll have to see if I can get my hands on a 12mm and have another go after painting.

Is it a problem if I can't get it off??

Personally when i do them I mask off the piston with masking tape (suprise suprise) and any things like the bleed nipple and the rubber slider covers.

On the carriers I dont mask anything and when they have dried just use a rough file to carefully take the paint off the contact areas where the pad sits.

And Kev its not a problem if you cant get it off, but its not suprising you cant undo it if your using the wrong sized socket. Doing that you run the risk of rounding the bolt off and they you have problems.

As a rough guide I usually charge £120 to paint and fit a set of 312mm brakes.

Update: The offending nut was removed last night with the correct sized socket.

Undercoat is on, one coat of green is on, defo needs a second coat though.

Lummox if you weren't so bloody far away I'd be contacting you about fitting!! Not lined anybody up yet. Wouldn't trust myself with such and important part of the car.

Personally when i do them I mask off the piston with masking tape (suprise suprise) and any things like the bleed nipple and the rubber slider covers.

On the carriers I dont mask anything and when they have dried just use a rough file to carefully take the paint off the contact areas where the pad sits.

And Kev its not a problem if you cant get it off, but its not suprising you cant undo it if your using the wrong sized socket. Doing that you run the risk of rounding the bolt off and they you have problems.

As a rough guide I usually charge £120 to paint and fit a set of 312mm brakes.

Well I found Smooth green in halfords this morning, took the safe option and got the primer/undercoat as well. So I currently have four bits of undercoated metal hanging in my garage. The green goes on next week sometime, perhaps one bit of metal a night!

I gave up on getting the tight hose off, I've painted around it.

I'd probably cut the old hose off and fit a new one.

Reason I say this is that it's a lot easier to do it now than if one fails and is on the car and the person has problems getting it off.

uh? My update was the nut has been released, no problem anymore.

uh? My update was the nut has been released, no problem anymore.

Not sure what happened but when i posted that the other messages were not there :confused: