{"id":1359,"date":"2025-06-22T20:12:41","date_gmt":"2025-06-22T20:12:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ihni.uk\/?p=1359"},"modified":"2025-06-22T20:12:41","modified_gmt":"2025-06-22T20:12:41","slug":"sadie-progress-positive-progression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ihni.uk\/?p=1359","title":{"rendered":"Sadie Progress &#8211; Braking Progression!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s been a wee while since I gave an update on Sadie. Now, you might assume her horror-show of an MOT test knocked the wind out of my sails. But no! Spirits remained mostly uncrushed\u2014I\u2019ve just been busy in the background hoarding parts like a magpie with a Halfords gift card, chipping away at fixes bit by bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, what I had in front of me was a tidy little list of \u201cminor\u201d jobs. You know, the sort a <em>qualified mechanic<\/em> would blitz through over a long lunch break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I, dear reader, am not a qualified mechanic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Greatest Hits of Sadie\u2019s Faults:<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Number plate lights: dead<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Windscreen washers: also dead<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Headlight washers: deceased<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Headlight levelling unit: snuffed it<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Power steering: not just dead\u2014leaking and dramatically theatrical about it<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Brake pipes: corroded enough to make an MOT tester cry<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A list like that would make most people prioritise. Not me. I decided to kick things off with the most awkward, finger-splitting job on the list: the brake lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now sure, I <em>could<\/em> have bought pre-bent or full braided lines like a sane person. But where\u2019s the fun in that? I grabbed a flare kit off Amazon and dove in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Passenger side first\u2014closest to the ABS module on RHD cars. Some pipes came out with a bit of persuasion. Others required the full \u201cangry toolbox\u201d approach: cutting disc, blowtorch, and a spanner that I now lovingly call <em>The Persuader<\/em>. Unfortunately, in the process I also killed off the original brake hoses. Blueprint replacements were ordered and I pushed on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Armed with a pipe bender and a suspiciously DIY copper-straightening setup (involving a block of wood and optimism), I shaped the new lines into something <em>roughly<\/em> resembling the originals. Flared the ends, bolted it all in\u2014eventually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/ihni.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-2-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1362\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ihni.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-2-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/ihni.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-2-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/ihni.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-2-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/ihni.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-2.png 1182w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"374\" height=\"665\" src=\"http:\/\/ihni.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-3.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1363\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ihni.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-3.png 374w, https:\/\/ihni.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-3-169x300.png 169w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 374px) 100vw, 374px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Driver\u2019s side was a treat. The pipe runs behind the bulkhead, the power steering tank, and the coolant reservoir\u2014basically every part of the car that wants to fight you. I did what any rational person would: rage quit and went to do something easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cue: number plate light replacement. A satisfying, clicky, 3-minute win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"374\" height=\"665\" src=\"http:\/\/ihni.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-4.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1364\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ihni.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-4.png 374w, https:\/\/ihni.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-4-169x300.png 169w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 374px) 100vw, 374px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While I was there, I pulled out the windscreen and headlight washer pumps and tossed them into a degreaser bath. 24 hours later, they resembled something from this decade. Amazing what a bit of cleaner and neglected maintenance can do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"374\" height=\"665\" src=\"http:\/\/ihni.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-5.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1365\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ihni.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-5.png 374w, https:\/\/ihni.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-5-169x300.png 169w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 374px) 100vw, 374px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back to the brakes, I finished both sides and installed the new hoses. Job done\u2014mostly by guesswork and spite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"374\" height=\"665\" src=\"http:\/\/ihni.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-6.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1366\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ihni.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-6.png 374w, https:\/\/ihni.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-6-169x300.png 169w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 374px) 100vw, 374px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Intermission: A Few Months of Sulking<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sadie sat untouched for a while as I regained motivation (and knuckle skin). Eventually, I tackled the headlight levelling unit, which was supposedly just a broken arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cue: 3D printed replacement. Fancy. Even added the part number, because I\u2019m a professional now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"354\" height=\"382\" src=\"http:\/\/ihni.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-7.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1367\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ihni.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-7.png 354w, https:\/\/ihni.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-7-278x300.png 278w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 354px) 100vw, 354px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Except the sensor itself had all the movement of a pensioner in quicksand. Time to admit defeat\u2014bought a new unit, slapped it in, used the nice new arm that came with it, and called it a win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lastly, the now-cleaned washer pumps went back in, everything squirted as it should, and\u2014miracle of miracles\u2014all systems were go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sadie lives to fight another day. MOT avenged. Fingers only slightly ruined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s been a wee while since I gave an update on Sadie. Now, you might&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1370,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,9],"tags":[24,55,56,66,72,82],"class_list":["post-1359","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-my-cars","tag-cooper","tag-mini","tag-mini-cooper-s","tag-r53","tag-sadie","tag-wk52-gnp"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/ihni.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-8-e1750623254555.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ihni.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1359","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ihni.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ihni.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ihni.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ihni.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1359"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ihni.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1359\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ihni.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1370"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ihni.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1359"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ihni.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1359"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ihni.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1359"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}