Dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and enjoyment of all Rootes Group Vehicles
These pointers were written with the new owner in mind. Purchase of a shop manual is highly recommended. a. Fluid color ~you want clear fluid, not dark. Dark fluid indicates deterioration of the rubber seals. Drain and refill with Girling or Lockheed fluid only. Standard fluid will deteriorate the seals (and may have caused the (more…)
by Tom Ehrhart The melody of squealing disc brakes has been with us since Day One. The tune need not be an annoying and frustrating one, however. In fact, it need not be one at all. Our cars have always had certain engineering features that eliminated these embarrassing, gad-awful sounds. Some cars, most notably the (more…)
by Phil Lindsay The vacuum-power brake servo unit is really a two-sided beast. Its good side provides substantial braking assistance to romping Tigers and, thus, it seems to be desirable for most Tiger owners. I’ve only heard of a couple Godzillas who don’t need the servo. The bad side of the servo can really be (more…)
…And it worked for me! by Ron Rogers I am about to divulge a secret that has been invaluable for making my car win races for the last six years. Are you ready for this one? I know that I have maximum braking power. This fact not only helps the car perform better, but also (more…)
previously published as “Rebuilding Rootes’ Master Cylinders” by Tiger Tom in the January 2003 RootesReview and updated in the November 2004 issue In rebuilding your Sunbeam’s clutch or brake master cylinder, it is important to inspect the long, internal return spring for wear where it rubs the cylinder bore during use. Over time, the spring (more…)
By John Logan in the September 2004 RootesReview QUESTION How do I get stuck pistons out of the calipers on my Sunbeam? ANSWER Stuck caliper pistons can be removed by screwing a grease fitting into the cylinder inlet and pumping in grease. This will pop them right out. One piston will pop before the other (more…)
by John Logan in the July 2005 RootesReview You don’t need a fancy brake bleed contraption or even a helper if you want to bleed your Tiger or Alpine brakes. It’s called the Gravity Method. This method will work with other cars that don’t have large vertical loops in the brake lines, valves that can (more…)
by Joe Mazzei originally published as The Technical Tiger in the February 1977 RootesReview Tiger and Alpine owners over time have experienced a variety of maladies centered around “stopping the beast”, i.e., brakes. Contrary to common belief the brakes on a Tiger are basically the same as those on an Alpine. (Keep in mind that (more…)
by A. Wojtowicz and M. del Prado in the August 1977 RootesReview: If you own an Alpine/Tiger you will probably have to rebuild the Girling Servo Unit. Here are a few secrets that make rebuilding the servo a successful operation. Removal of unit from the car is made easier by first removing the manifold vacuum (more…)