Technical Mk I Punto MOT Fail: Brakes and Exhaust. Help!

[LewisJMoore]

I just got home from my MOT test and unfortunately failed, apparently the exhaust is blowing, (On examination there is a pencil-sized hole in the back box), and the rear brakes are under-performing.

They quoted me £160 + Parts + VAT, which i really don't have to hand, do you think that these are things that could be fixed at home?

Halfords website have several exhaust repair kits... is it really that simple? Would the product below, recommended on the halfords website, be sufficient to get me through?
Holts Gun Gum Flexiwrap Silencer Repair HL1


I imagine the brakes might be a bot more of an issue. Presumably i will need to 'diagnose' why the brakes are underperforming before i can sort them out? What are the common causes of poor braking performance?

Many thanks in advance for all of your help.

Lewy

 

[lowandslow]

i used that halfords stuff on my exhaust with the bandage good stuff that should sort it but you may have to get new one or welded if it is bad(counts on where the whole is) as for the brakes when was the last time they were changed? could be low

 

[beau]

what does it say about the rear brakes exactly?

un even, low hand brake? or what.

you need to take the rear brake drums off and take a look, may be just dirty and poorly adjusted, low brake shoes or leaking wheel cylinders.

 

[LewisJMoore]

I posted a picture of the exhaust hole in my gallery, can't link to if here as i'm new...


The report says: "Service brake efficiency below requirements."
I would have thought that low fluid would have cause the front brakes to under-perform as well, but they passed. Strangely i just checked and the fluid is on the 'minimum' line. Will top that up but i guess there's no way to be sure that was the whole problem.

Not sure when the brakes were last changed, i've only had the car about a year.

Is there a guide somewhere to taking the drums off? It's not something i've done before. I have ordered a haynes manual but have not got my hands on it yet.

Cheers.

 

[lowandslow]

I posted a picture of the exhaust hole in my gallery, can't link to if here as i'm new...


The report says: "Service brake efficiency below requirements."
I would have thought that low fluid would have cause the front brakes to under-perform as well, but they passed. Strangely i just checked and the fluid is on the 'minimum' line. Will top that up but i guess there's no way to be sure that was the whole problem.

Not sure when the brakes were last changed, i've only had the car about a year.

Is there a guide somewhere to taking the drums off? It's not something i've done before. I have ordered a haynes manual but have not got my hands on it yet.

Cheers.

best to wait till you got the haynes manual so you can look back and forth just makes it easier

 

[LewisJMoore]

Do you think that changing the brake drums/ shoes is something that is reasonable to do as an amateur? My dad seemed to think that I should take it in somewhere but i really can't afford garage prices.

From what i've seen it doesn't look too difficult, but i don't want to endanger myself! Thoughts?

 

[MadMan0]

Do you think that changing the brake drums/ shoes is something that is reasonable to do as an amateur? My dad seemed to think that I should take it in somewhere but i really can't afford garage prices.

From what i've seen it doesn't look too difficult, but i don't want to endanger myself! Thoughts?

it's a stright forward job, i've got to do the same on my mk1 punto, axle stands on rear, pop wheels off, would adivse a hynes manual if you haven't already got one...

Lastly, i didnt think a small whole in back box After Cat was a fail.. might be a dodgy garage you went to for MOT.

 

[Kevin Hammond]

I have done the front pads on a Punto a number of times and I can tell you it is a very easy job (but don't do what I did and get someone to pump the brakes before putting the cylinder back in place - needed a new seal set which was not an easy job). The rear shoes are a bit more complicated (more fiddly - releasing the springs can be a bit of a nightmare - you need two pairs of hands and a good set of long nosed pliers). Replacing the rear cylinders is also an easy job. Oh and another piece of advice - undo the rear bleed nipples very carefully - they break easily.