Lancia Motor Club

Yesterday I took my series 1 1.3 Rallye out for its first drive after having had it imported from Italy last year (from DG Classic Cars - highly recommended) and readied for the road by Keith and Jim at Auto Integrale. First impressions - very pretty, esp in the sun, and she goes really rather well. Steering is OK, although there is some side-to-side free play. I wasn’t expecting much from the brakes and it does indeed take a strong push and a silent prayer to stop. Maybe I am expecting too much from a 1968 car but is it possible to sharpen up the steering and improve the braking?. A steering box rebuild, perhaps? I know 'upgraded' 2-pot callipers are available for the series 1 and I believe there are kits to allow fitment of 4-pot series 2 Dunlop callipers. So, should I leave as is or are there useful steering/brake mods or upgrades that will make it a little ‘nicer’ to steer and stop?

Nice. Dunlop brakes work very well even un servo'd if they are good all round including the hoses. Stering box is generally not to blame when correctly adjusted but a worn track rod end or 2 can give your symptoms.

Great car, congratulations. The steering system is often neglected: 80W-90 oil should be added to the steering box and grease pumped into the idler box via its grease nipple. Both boxes can be adjusted for play via their screws.
Dunlop brakes are very good (routinely used for rallying by Lancia): strong pedal effort suggests the need for testing where the problem arises. Often the brake cylinders are full of horrible junk and the seals hardened by lack of regular brake fluid replacement (at max every 24 months). Is the brake fluid very clean? Andrea

Dunlop brakes are very good if the system is in good order exactly as Andrea says.
Ref the steering, does the car tend to swing one way or the other when you accelerate/decelerate just using the throttle. If so, then look at the track rods ends. Its not that easy to check them for wear when on the car but they are pretty straightforward to replace.
Chris

Thanks all,
I hope to attend the AGM on the Sunday in the car so please come and chat.
Colin

i got my brakes and system properly sorted 10 years ago… they’ve been perfect ever since. progressive, sharp and powerful.
the servo is awesome so no need to push hard.

mihran

My berlina had a "dead" feel to the brakes when I bought it, that was sorted with new pads, now lovely and progressive

I think I need mine sorting too. Any recommendations for a suitable place to do this? I live in west London.

My series II failed its MOT because the tester was so used to overservoed modern cars that hs simply did not push on the pedal!     They require a bit more push than a modern but then work very well.

Hi Simon
Colin here - we stayed in your cottage a few years back. What pads do you recommend?
Best wishes, Colin

EBC green pads, Andrea

I used some pads that I already had in stock (NOS) just to see if it made a difference and it helped identify the "disparity"

As Andrea says EBC Green (or Yellow) from my research , but not my experience

I still have the mad idea of having a Fulvia as part of our 'Gite - Experience"  but am very pleased to see that you made the leap and bought a beautiful Rallye SI