hello
thinking of buying a 1972 504. it has the column shifter and handbrake lever under the dash.
how is this early model compared to the later ones?
I've heard that the early cars are actually updated 404's.
Should have trapezoid headlights and French seats for starters. later models in Australia have recessed door handles, twin round headlights and tombstone seats. Dash instumentation may also be different.
Talking about cars not sold here, 1972 isn't that early, probably will have column shift and single circuit brakes plus the underdash handbrake, otherwise it will have the 2 litre engine and no 404 parts. Pre 75 cars will have shorter front shock absorber inserts and push button door handles. Very early ones, pre 1970 will have a stroked 404 engine.
Yes I’ve heard that Graham, I’m going to see if the 19 mm master cylinder fits my 200mm booster. Failing that I’ll have to go dual master as I have one handy.
The thing with dual circuit brakes is it is "safety for the masses".
Touch wood, in 40 odd years of playing with cars, I've had numerous ones with single circuit brakes (I have 4 vehicles at the moment with that type of MC) and never had a brake failure, I have had one total brake failure with a dual circuit MC though.
However how many people do you know who never lift the bonnet on their cars, like ever?
Brakes will almost always give some indication something isn't right, whether the pedal starts to creep or the fluid level is dropping faster than one would anticipate, especially in an all drum set up.
Motorcycles, as far as I know, all still run single circuit master cylinders, as you have independent control of the front and rear brakes, if one end fails, the other will still work.
Dual circuit brakes in cars, are a safety system for people who mindlessly make their way through life giving zero f#cks about how a car works, as long as it starts, it's "all good".
I did have a single circuit one fail. The early 404s had the stop light switch molded in plastic on the banjo connection from the master cylinder. A wiring fault in a trailer created a short which melted the plastic, pedal went to the floor in the middle of the Moonee Ponds shops!! Not everything about a 404 is well designed.
Correct, when the dual circuit pedal went straight to the floor on the HQ Monaro I had bought just a couple of days earlier, there was zero warning.
I bought the car when it was 7 years old, it had a full service history, a brand new RWC, and I purchased it from a very reputable new and used car dealer.
There was no "safety, secondary circuit back up", the pedal went straight into the carpet, and I went through a red light at 60 kph.
This was my only total brake failure, ever.
I have however averted many, simply by looking around the car/s, for telltale signs of minor leakage on the inside of the tyres, back of the firewall or face of the booster, (in addition to the previously mentioned change in pedal feel, and unexpected fluid level changes).