Rover800.Info

scoobyh123 wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 08, 2022 6:29 pm

SJG wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 08, 2022 6:05 pm

Can't believe they have drums at the rear. What are the brakes like?

I can't speak for Marcs brakes Simon but all the SD1s (i had 7) had excellent brakes. Most of the braking is done by the front brakes and if memory serves they were 4-pot calipers and big discs so plenty of stopping power.

Yeah, same here, I never remember them as being poor, just surprised.

SJG wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 08, 2022 7:37 pm

scoobyh123 wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 08, 2022 6:29 pm

SJG wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 08, 2022 6:05 pm

Can't believe they have drums at the rear. What are the brakes like?

I can't speak for Marcs brakes Simon but all the SD1s (i had 7) had excellent brakes. Most of the braking is done by the front brakes and if memory serves they were 4-pot calipers and big discs so plenty of stopping power.

Yeah, same here, I never remember them as being poor, just surprised.

The back end treatment of the SD1 was a surprise to many as the P6 it replaced not only had rear discs but also IRS yet the SD1 was a live axle with Watts Linkage and drum brakes. Quite a retrograde step in many ways but much of the competition for the SD1 had rear drums and it was cheaper and less complicated to manufacture and maintain. People were just beginning to wake up to servicing costs in the 70s, before that most things had been so similar and/or used a common parts bin so servicing was more or less the same cost no matter what car you had.
As cars got more exotic from the late 60s onwards, servicing became more of a consideration. Ay least that's my theory on why or it could have been good ol' BL Penny-Pinching again!

Thanks for the comments. Well the brakes are fine I must say. Pedal does feel firm, especially when one compares it with modern cars were one look at the brake pedal will remove the flesh from the face. But yeah good stopping power. Drums are fine but only when pushed hard they will fade soner than discs I think.

A few weekends ago i took the Vanden Plas out of hibernation. Realy nice to drive this old Rover again:





Wheels look pretty good in daylight too i think:

More excellent stuff Marc!

It's always a great pleasure to get back behind the wheel of your car

This is always my case after a few weeks, so I imagine the pleasure after a hibernation

Lodein

Thanks guys!

Replaced the front shocks again. This time i had SPAX installed. The previous shocks seem to be faulty because they did not absorb the bumbs anymore. These SPAX dampers are adjustable with the twist of a buton!


They work great and the Rover drives as comfy as it should!
Also the front brake pads were replaced and the engine oil system flushed and oil replaced.

Hopefully the new Spax see you right Marc! Something in the back of my mind says the OE front dampers on SD1s were Monroe but i might be wrong, rears were Boge-Nivomats on the top models but have never been impressed with those, even when new.

Thanks Dave. They seem to work nice. Nice and comfy!

Good news Marc!

After two years it was time for the MOT again. It was achieved without a fuss!

As a reward i washed the Vanden Plas with grease/wax removing soap to prepare the bodywork for the new coat of wax. I also used a claycloth to remove small contaminants.

Congratulations on the MoT pass Marc! Given the attnetion you lavish on your cars it's no surprise but nice to hear anyway!

Congratulations for the MOT, but as Scoobyh123 says, it would have been a surprise if you had encountered some difficulties

Lodein

Thanks guys!