Mitsubishi Delica Owners Club UK™

[barneybubble]

Hi all, been looking for a Delica L400 for months now without success. Managed to find one last week that was near enough to me so went to take a look. All looked generally okay, although I am not knowledgeable enough to really say that for sure! But the price was very keen so took the plunge as it seemed worth the risk.

She is a.....

96 L400 Super Exceed
2.8d
90,000 on the clock
MOT until July

So now for a couple of questions I hope you guys can answer for me. Firstly, the front brakes are binding. It drives okay but you can feel it struggling against them, drove it for 10 minutes and when we stopped you could smell the brakes and they were very hot.

I need to move it another 30 minutes drive to another location, do you think it is safe to do without making the situation worse or should I look at trying to fix / improve the issue first?

Secondly, the intercooler makes a super loud wooshing noise in the cab when you go up even a minor slope. I am assuming this is a split in the house somewhere but anything else I should be checking?

Hopefully you guys can help with these newbie questions!

[Google]

[Lewis]

Driving a vehicle with a binding brake can result in you burning out the caliper and damaging the brake disc, both of which may need replacing. £££££  

The whooshing noise may just be down to the Turbo overpressure valve opening up. If your having to increase throttle speed to overcome the drag from the binding brake that will result in increased engine revs and thus turbo pressure.

HTH
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Copyright is retained for all my photos. Please don't copy them without asking permission
Do not blindly go where the path may lead you. Go where there is no path and leave a trail that others may follow!
ルイス

[barneybubble]

Thanks for that, will attempt to repair in situ.

I haven't even had chance to investigate anything yet so will head up to it's current location soon and get the wheel off. I know anything is a possibility, but knowing Delicas, am I likely to find a seized brake caliper?

If so then for the low price that new calipers are, do you think its is easier to just replace the whole thing?

[andyman]

Take a G clamp, socket set, levers/strong flat screwdrivers and spray lubricant, flask of tea/coffee. Once you have used these to get the calipers off, spray liberally around the pistons,and use the G clamp and suitably sized socket to force the pistons back into the calipers. Start the engine, and press carefully on the brake pedal, checking how far out the pistons have come (you don't want them out completely at this stage). Spray around the pistons some more, and force them back in as before. Repeat a few times until the pistons are moving more easily, then clean up, reassemble and drive home. Drive home and have a fresh cuppa to celebrate. Stuck pistons are not unusual on these, perhaps because they spend longish periods stationary, waiting for their owners to save up for a tank of fuel! But usually worth the wait. You may find you need to do a more thorough disassembly and clean of the calipers, you may even decide to simply replace them. Oh, welcome to Deli-world, BTW!
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Andy C L300 Super Exceed - over 100 smiles per gallon!

[barneybubble]

Thanks for that, hopefully I can get them unstuck and motoring again!

Looking forward to many adventures ahead

[Green Grouch]

I echo Andyman on most of that as just done my rear right Caliper.
I did his above to get me through till I ordered a seal Kit.


My piston was really stuck in but after removing it and cleaning with scotch bright and brake fluid,  it now slides in and out like a precision instrument. (also lubricated with brake fluid).  

I nearly bought a new Caliper as I felt lazy but a £20 frentech seal  overhaul kit sorted it cheap, and under an hours labour.  

On the front,  you will find it easier to use a peice of 6mm flat steel or angle to put across both pistons and wind them in together.  

When pumping them back out, you may notice one sticking.  

I love delicas and have never left mine standing long, but they do seem to suffer from sticking calipers?

I once had one of my front discs glowing red hot on first Deli. Not good.  
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A Little Knowledge is Dangerous and expensive! especially if your me Mending anything!!

[YOZA]

I found this post by Lewis to be most helpful when stripping my callipers down.


http://www.MDOCUK.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=36472
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Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity....

[barneybubble]

So first attempt today didn't go too well Couldn't get the wheel nuts off so finally gave up with the brace I was using and purchased an extendable one.

Now the 21mm socket won't go far enough onto the bolt to grip! So I am now trying to find an extra narrow 21mm socket that will fit onto my extendable wheel brace

[Deker]

Hi Barney.

Whereabouts in Gloucester are you, I have an engineer friend in Gloucs, who may be able to help.

I called him, but he's a bit busy at the mo.

He can usually sort these problems - - -
But he does need a bit persuading. i.e. steel stock, round and flat is a good persuader. Sometimes a few ££s

When he calls back, I'll see what he sez. Stay on here till I get back to you.

Mr D

[barneybubble]

Thanks very much for the offer of a connection! In this instance though I think I have managed to find the socket I need... part number 364505 as I am unable to post URLs yet

Looks deep enough to get in so hopefully should be good, plus I am going to need one for future work so well worth grabbing I think.

My next task after this is going to be looking at rust, does your engineer friend weld by any chance?

[barneybubble]

That part number was from Halfords btw

[Deker]

Welding = NO

Mr D

[barneybubble]

A big fat NO then

I am heading to Halfords first thing tomorrow, I will report back with a successful outcome tomorrow

[barneybubble]

Managed to get the nuts on both front wheels undone finally after purchasing the narrow socket from Halfords. So at least that is one job finally successfully completed

Got myself a 2 tonne trolley jack and lifted the front end up from the front crossmember. Only lifted enough to get the tyre just off the ground as I have no axle stands currently so taking it cautiously.

Took the wheel off and confirmed that the caliper has seized, can't get it to budge at all. So next task was to take off the caliper itself, that is where I am now stuck! The bolts will not budge with my current set of tools.

My plan is to take up my impact driver and try and loosen them with that.

I think at this point I am best off getting some axle stands as I don't want to shake the Deli much with just the jack underneath. What weight rating should I look for?

[Lewis]

Be careful with that jack, as it is too light for lifting both wheels off the ground together. You really need a 3 ton one.  I also have a 2Ton one, but just for carrying in the van, for breakdowns, to lift one wheel off to replace it.

RE Caliper: I assume you man you can't get the caliper slider lock bolt out. What you can do instead is undo the two calipercarrier bolts at the back and lift the whole lot off together, to do it on a bench.  First though you will need to clamp off the brake hose then disconnect it. That itself will help take the hydraulic pressure off the pistons.

If you don't have any brake hose clamps you can make do with a couple of flat metal plates held in place with a clamp.

HTH
_________________


Copyright is retained for all my photos. Please don't copy them without asking permission
Do not blindly go where the path may lead you. Go where there is no path and leave a trail that others may follow!
ルイス

[barneybubble]

Point taken with jack, will invest in a 3 ton one tomorrow. In terms of axle stands, what weight rating should these be?

[Lewis]

Personally I have a pair of Clarke 6 Tonne stands, then I can have both front wheels up off the ground to safely work under it. The safe working load of them is 3 Tonne, likewise the safe working load of a pair of 3 Tonne stands is 1.5 Tonne, which is less than either axle weight.

A 3decent pair will cost around £40.

HTH
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Copyright is retained for all my photos. Please don't copy them without asking permission
Do not blindly go where the path may lead you. Go where there is no path and leave a trail that others may follow!
ルイス

[barneybubble]

Spotted these SliverLine ones at Argos for £20 - Product number is 2559418

They are listed as 3 tonne per stand which should be enough?

[Lewis]

Before you buy them Checkout the max height they will lift to. Then checkout the height your axle is off the floor before you start lifting. Compared to the 6 Tonne ones.  
_________________


Copyright is retained for all my photos. Please don't copy them without asking permission
Do not blindly go where the path may lead you. Go where there is no path and leave a trail that others may follow!
ルイス

[barneybubble]

Keep trying to save a few pounds

Thanks for pointing that out otherwise I would have been wasting a few pounds!  Will grab the Clarke ones tomorrow, 24" lift seems much more appropriate