Back plate woes

Kernowchristoff · 23rd March 2021, 15:04

Hi Guys

Took my Tourer today for the MOT and I would have an issue. Failed on the handbrake cable excessive play because one cable is defective and the back plated are shot well after 217,000 cant really complain.

After calling several looking workshops nobody will touch the car and one guy thought it was rear wheel drive. MOT runs out on the 6th. Has anybody had this experience because its a Rover ? Also I have the repair kit but one garage stated I could not use my own parts as they were not insured for them i meant WTF.

As I am no mechanic I will have little choice to lay her up for a bit. I complete pain in the rump but that's where I find myself.

Stay safe people

Chris

vitesse · 23rd March 2021, 15:21

Have a word with member "the flying banana" (Saltash) and ask him where he takes his. With a bit of luck you might even end up on the right side of the Tamar where you can enjoy a proper Ivor Dewdney pasty

Regards

grivas · 23rd March 2021, 15:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kernowchristoff

Hi Guys

Took my Tourer today for the MOT and I would have an issue. Failed on the handbrake cable excessive play because one cable is defective and the back plated are shot well after 217,000 cant really complain.

After calling several looking workshops nobody will touch the car and one guy thought it was rear wheel drive. MOT runs out on the 6th. Has anybody had this experience because its a Rover ? Also I have the repair kit but one garage stated I could not use my own parts as they were not insured for them i meant WTF.

As I am no mechanic I will have little choice to lay her up for a bit. I complete pain in the rump but that's where I find myself.

Stay safe people

Chris

Sorry to hear that you are not having any success in finding a garage to service your Rover.
You should try to find a small traditional garage who actually know mechanics not one that are used to replacing modules, why have they refused to service your car, what reason did they give?.
What about the MOT garage?

The Rovering Member · 23rd March 2021, 18:16

I think Bob with Banana uses a mobile mechanic, or used to before he moved. He'll be along shortly anyway.

Kernowchristoff · 23rd March 2021, 18:48

Hi Guys

in answer to some of the questions. I normally go to a specialist in Devon who knows the car backwards however due to lockdown cant go too far.

I think some are scared of it or just don't know the car or cant be bothered. I found a guy locally and hopefully can sort it before MOT runs out.

Many thanks

Chris

Ducati750cc · 23rd March 2021, 23:29

Hi Chris, changing backplates according to manuals isn't a highly technical, nor too involved process, but because, in most instances, they could have been sat there for almost two decades, tin worm on the plates and general rust and corrosion on fittings and fastenings is a ball of fun.

I'm in the middle of giving a 75 I was given ( great body, interior, engine gearbox, low mileage ) MOT failure, a bit of back end treatment including back plates, upper arms, handbrake shoes / fittings etc and general suspension component corrosion, which was worse than it appeared, I hope to do a write up with photo's to help others later.

The 4 bolts holding the plate to the trailing arm can and will more than likely, be rusted and seized, as with any other fastenings to get to this stage, copious use of Plusgass regularly helps.

The next bit of fun is removing the handbrake cable outers from the backplate ( shoes, adjuster and hand brake cable link already been removed ) this looks and is simple, a fitting, tube, on the end of the outer cable simply sits inside a tube on the backplate, it only needs pulling out, but after X years of water, sand and salt it rusts in and can be a s...... to remove.

One way is to cut through the rear cables and replace the cables and plates and have done with it and in your case you appear to need new cables ( rear ? ) anyway, however if the cables are OK the only way I've found to release them from the backplate is to butcher the backplate with an angle grinder enough to allow access to carefully slit and open up the backplate tube to allow the cable to be pulled out.

If I get time in the next couple of days I'll post some photos.

madeupname · 25th March 2021, 16:02

Hi Chris, I changed both my backplates a few years ago. Couldn't get the handbrake cable out so ended up cutting it off and putting a new pair on.
I'm not an expert but found all the jobs doable myself.
I got the backplates from DMGRS and the cables from another forum member.
Haven't had any problems since

23rd March 2021, 15:04	#1
Kernowchristoff Avid contributor Rover 75 Tourer Connoisseur Se hi line Mk 1 115 CDT Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Par Cornwall Posts: 102 Thanks: 89 Thanked 16 Times in 12 Posts	Back plate woes Hi Guys Took my Tourer today for the MOT and I would have an issue. Failed on the handbrake cable excessive play because one cable is defective and the back plated are shot well after 217,000 cant really complain. After calling several looking workshops nobody will touch the car and one guy thought it was rear wheel drive. MOT runs out on the 6th. Has anybody had this experience because its a Rover ? Also I have the repair kit but one garage stated I could not use my own parts as they were not insured for them i meant WTF. As I am no mechanic I will have little choice to lay her up for a bit. I complete pain in the rump but that's where I find myself. Stay safe people Chris Last edited by Kernowchristoff; 23rd March 2021 at 15:05.. Reason: spelling errror

23rd March 2021, 18:16	#4
The Rovering Member I really should get out more....... Rover 75 saloon Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: London Posts: 2,955 Thanks: 263 Thanked 538 Times in 431 Posts	I think Bob with Banana uses a mobile mechanic, or used to before he moved. He'll be along shortly anyway. __________________ Reducing the size of my Rover fleet by adding a 75 to it.

23rd March 2021, 23:29	#6
Ducati750cc Loves to post Rover75 tourer Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Ashton Posts: 428 Thanks: 121 Thanked 206 Times in 145 Posts	Hi Chris, changing backplates according to manuals isn't a highly technical, nor too involved process, but because, in most instances, they could have been sat there for almost two decades, tin worm on the plates and general rust and corrosion on fittings and fastenings is a ball of fun. I'm in the middle of giving a 75 I was given ( great body, interior, engine gearbox, low mileage ) MOT failure, a bit of back end treatment including back plates, upper arms, handbrake shoes / fittings etc and general suspension component corrosion, which was worse than it appeared, I hope to do a write up with photo's to help others later. The 4 bolts holding the plate to the trailing arm can and will more than likely, be rusted and seized, as with any other fastenings to get to this stage, copious use of Plusgass regularly helps. The next bit of fun is removing the handbrake cable outers from the backplate ( shoes, adjuster and hand brake cable link already been removed ) this looks and is simple, a fitting, tube, on the end of the outer cable simply sits inside a tube on the backplate, it only needs pulling out, but after X years of water, sand and salt it rusts in and can be a s...... to remove. One way is to cut through the rear cables and replace the cables and plates and have done with it and in your case you appear to need new cables ( rear ? ) anyway, however if the cables are OK the only way I've found to release them from the backplate is to butcher the backplate with an angle grinder enough to allow access to carefully slit and open up the backplate tube to allow the cable to be pulled out. If I get time in the next couple of days I'll post some photos. __________________ Common sense isn't a gift, it's a punishment because you have to deal with everyone who doesn't have it.

25th March 2021, 16:02	#7
madeupname Posted a thing or two Rover 75 Connie Mk2 1.8 (Mo) Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Sheffield Posts: 1,531 Thanks: 875 Thanked 335 Times in 289 Posts	Hi Chris, I changed both my backplates a few years ago. Couldn't get the handbrake cable out so ended up cutting it off and putting a new pair on. I'm not an expert but found all the jobs doable myself. I got the backplates from DMGRS and the cables from another forum member. Haven't had any problems since __________________ Mo was born Tuesday, 22nd June 2004 @ 08:32:41 This vehicle was the 99,307th 75 to run off the production line, out of 112,381 This vehicle was the 5,377th 75 1.8 Connoisseur to be made out of 6,033 This vehicle was the 783rd 75 in Firefrost Red (code: CEV) to be made out of 2,089 Firefrost Red 75s

23rd March 2021, 15:21	#2
vitesse I really should get out more....... Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Gävle Posts: 2,533 Thanks: 395 Thanked 823 Times in 652 Posts	Have a word with member "the flying banana" (Saltash) and ask him where he takes his. With a bit of luck you might even end up on the right side of the Tamar where you can enjoy a proper Ivor Dewdney pasty Regards

23rd March 2021, 18:48	#5
Kernowchristoff Avid contributor Rover 75 Tourer Connoisseur Se hi line Mk 1 115 CDT Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Par Cornwall Posts: 102 Thanks: 89 Thanked 16 Times in 12 Posts	Hi Guys in answer to some of the questions. I normally go to a specialist in Devon who knows the car backwards however due to lockdown cant go too far. I think some are scared of it or just don't know the car or cant be bothered. I found a guy locally and hopefully can sort it before MOT runs out. Many thanks Chris