I would replace all flexi hoses, the hoses from the reservoirs to the master cylinder. possibly look at replacing the master cylinder with a new one and finally overhauling the calipers.
If you are running a standard X1/9 with original engine then the brakes, if properly serviced, are sufficient to stop the car.
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Been there and got the t-shirt with the uno turbo brakes and in my opinion, they are not worth the money. Get some decent quality pads and discs, properly service the calipers, replace the hoses like Andy says and they will feel excellent.
Andy and Rob are absolutely correct. For road use, good quality pads, discs and hoses all regularly serviced is all you need. My hillclimb racecar X19 has the standard set up with the only modification being adjustable brake bias via an additional master cylinder - this is so I can run with a lot more bias on the rears than standard. This set up works very well on the track but don't try it on the road!
I've just finished replacing my brakes, I completely refurbished both of the rear calipers and the front were completely shot so I bought a Pair on ebay £5 a bargain me thinks
I wanted to stay all original see what you think, I think they scrubbed up very well.
Patrick Collins wrote: what would be the way to upgrade brakes on a 1500 X1/9
I've actually been wondering this myself...
I find the brakes on my 1500 "adequate" at best. It has new calipers, discs, hoses and a new master cylinder. They stop the car fairly well, but I would love them to be sharper. If I, ahem, enjoy(!) a spirited(!) drive round some of the twisty B roads we have here in the Lakes I do find that I'm braking earlier than I would in my little Citroen AX GTI. The AX is a lot faster, with much better brakes, and handles well but not as well as the X1/9 (what does??!!). I wish the Fiat's brakes were as good.
So, if the Uno Turbo brakes are not worth the expense/effort (as stated earlier in the thread by Rob), what is the best way to improve? Is there a way to improve them?
I have just had the brake master cylinder replaced on my '84. Annoyingly, the bleed nipples on all four calipers were seized and have been snapped off, so the brakes cannot be properly bled.
I would appreciate some advice. Do I need to replace the calipers or could they be repaired / refurbished.
I have 284mm vented discs front and back with 4 pot calipers all round, but it is expensive and you need to have at least 15" wheels. Get the brakes serviced properly and try some green ebc pads in them - I have them (although bigger in size) and they are excellent. That's all you should need for a road car
One thing to note on retapping them out is that if they have been done before there may not be a big enough bleed nipple for the operation to be done again, at this point they are scrap. You could buy some new calipers and get some money back on an exchange basis, more cost but a lot easier and you'd have shiney new/recon calipers (don't point out the broken bleed nipples when handing them in!!)
Speedy Fiat wrote: One thing to note on retapping them out is that if they have been done before there may not be a big enough bleed nipple for the operation to be done again, at this point they are scrap. You could buy some new calipers and get some money back on an exchange basis, more cost but a lot easier and you'd have shiney new/recon calipers (don't point out the broken bleed nipples when handing them in!!)
Thanks. Would you know where I might get exchange calipers? I am going to need all four.
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