[formulastuart]

Hi,

I bought a OMP limited edition top front strut brace and It doesn't fit on my 2001 puma. The strut hits the brake reservoir. Has anyone else had this problem and solved it? I have heard rumors that the earlier puma has a different brake reservoir so it clears? Is that true?

Thanks Stuart

[Dogsbody]

I have the Sparco one to fit when the car comes back for the Ford garage in Melksham at some point.
Hope it fits OK as PB sold it to me.

I wasn't aware there was any changes with the braces over the years the Puma was produced.

[happy-kat]

There was a change to the brake resovoir.
The pipe from memory goes in one side or the other as one change, plus the master cylinder was changed.

[formulastuart]

HI,

Has anyone got any ideas? strut bracer .co.uk are saying it should fit fine and everything is fine from there point of view! That doesnt solve the non fitting of the strut brace!!

Another point what changed on the brake master cylinder? Should I be worried about my brake upgrades? Did the master cylinder change dimensions or function? If not could I fit an original brake master cylinder to fix the problem?

Thanks STuart

[FlashBastd]

Stuart,

What year is your car?

[formulastuart]

2001 51 plate

[FlashBastd]

What brakes have you got, just standard?

The reason I ask, is that I am led to believe that the earlier master cylinder and servo are better, so if you have upgraded brakes, then it might be an idea to change to the earlier setup, in which case the brace should fit.

Other thing to check is if the one they have sent you is also compatible with the Mk5 Fiesta, as IIRC all Mk5 will have the later servo and master, and therefore should foul like yours does, but if they have a Mk5 specific item, then that would also solve your problem.

[formulastuart]

Hi,

I have completed both 300mm mondeo mk3 upgrade to the front and the focus mk1 disc setup on the rear. I have the larger mk5 setup by the sound of it! I think swapping to the older unit might be my only option! The man from strut bracer is straight denying that it should fit so not being very helpful! What changed in the brake servo to make them better? Do you know? IS it a difficult job to change? Can you get new seal kits?

Thanks for helping me out!

Thanks Stuart

[FlashBastd]

Hopefully going to get mine changed soon. The main benefit seems to be in removing the long initial dead travel.

No clue what actually changed, bore diameter I believe is the same, but it is said to resolve the problem.

[formulastuart]

This sounds just like my problem! I also cant get rid of a fluid motion sound on depression of the brake pedal! It seems to be coming from the rear axle pipes. I think this is due to the master cylinder as fully bled but rear discs do not work as expected!. I have the hynes manual and doesn't seem to difficult to modify. I will have to source a new master cylinder to fit first. A new seal kit advisable?

Thanks Stuart

[FlashBastd]

Probably, but not sure how available the seat kits are.

I am hoping to try this soon, and will be able to confirm if it resolves the dead travel. My rear brakes seem to work fine though AFAIK, passed it's MoT with them last year anyway!

[Dogsbody]

My FRP is returning tomorrow for an extended stay at the local dealer, 4 months
So I will try and offer up the strut brace that's in the shed and take a picture or two to see how it fits.

[happy-kat]

The pipe location exiting the servo changed from memory.

If you do fit an early servo do make sure it was not off a Puma that had a VIN that matched the brake servo recall.


Graham my understanding is upper strut front braces can induce more under steer.

[Dogsbody]

I fitted one to my Mk2 Escort to strengthen the shell up and stop flex and wandering under very heavy braking.
The car was running Roller top Tarmac Bilstien suspension with a double width anti roll bar mounts and a anti dive kit.
So the was proverbially more give in the shell than the suspension
Prior to going roller-top.

Quite a beefy brace.

I will see how it goes, obviously the LSD is going to reduce understeer.
Right been out with a camera.


No clearance problems, in the picture showing the brake reservoir, I have pushed the brace down hard into the position it would be when bolted.

[FlashBastd]

Looks like your FRP has the earlier brake setup, so that would reinforce the idea that the brace will fit with the earlier setup.

[YOG]

@ Stuart

"I also can't get rid of a fluid motion sound on depression of the brake pedal! It seems to be coming from the rear axle pipes."
The following may be your problem, as it would seem you still have some air in the system:

Caution: On models equipped with ABS, disconnect the battery before disconnecting any braking system hydraulic union and do not reconnect the battery until after the hydraulic system has been bled. Failure to do this could lead to air entering the ABS hydraulic unit requiring the unit to be bled using special Ford test equipment.

Anti-lock braking system components - removal and refitting:
Hydraulic unit (contains electronic control unit (ECU), hydraulic solenoid valves (one set for each brake) and the electrically-driven pump):
Removal and refitting of the hydraulic unit should be entrusted to a Ford dealer since special electronic test equipment will be required to bleed the hydraulic system on refitting. The electronic test equipment allows the hydraulic unit to be switched into a special mode which purges the unit of all trapped air - it is not possible to remove trapped air from the unit by bleeding the system conventionally.

Regarding any excess pedal movement, air in the system, partly siezed pistons/pads, warped discs knocking back the pads (may not be warped enough to cause judder), mechanical components etc can all give this effect. I once had a Company Vauxhall Cavalier GSi with excess pedal movement. The Dealer changed everything except the brake pipes (servo, discs, pads, master cylinder etc) over a period of 12 months/32,000 miles and it was still the same when I went to collect it for the last time. Howerver, this time I got past the receptionist and spoke to a mechanic, 20 minutes later it was fixed. The solution, the rod attaching the pedal to the servo was adjustable!!! Unfortunately, I don't think it is on the Puma, but I'm not sure.

[happy-kat]

FlashBastd, on 19 April 2010 - 10:45 AM, said:

Looks like your FRP has the earlier brake setup, so that would reinforce the idea that the brace will fit with the earlier setup.

Not all FRPs are this setup, approx. half have the other servo design re which side the pipes exit.
I remember Peter Beatie covering this as it was a far better way to see if your FRP was a MY 2000 or a MY 2000.5 donor Puma then if it had the Ford logo badge on the air bag cover.

[formulastuart]

Thanks for the info. I have just received a haynes manual and read that exact paragraph. I had the battery disconnected throughout. I did have no calipers on at all for over three weeks though!!! I will have to enquire about that bleeding. I have disconnected the abs sensors anyway so maybe I could remove the unit completely!

The pictures of the brace tells me a few things. 1. the brace is different to mine as it doesnt have the complete circle to mount to the top of the strut and the brace passes infront of the brake master cylinder not the rear as pictured. 2. The racing puma has the older style of master cylinder set up as mine looks much different with a much larger reservoir.

I will take some pictures to show you all as I am sure people are having the same problems out there and wasting money which I am clearly doing!

Thanks Guys!!!!

[formulastuart]

Hi,

Has anyone got any pictures of a non abs puma? I am going to swap it out for the non aba version. Can anyone help?

STuart

[FlashBastd]

A guy on zsoc.com has just done this with his z-s, http://www.zsoc.com/...ad.php?t=179864