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sms
Level 1 User
Joined: 22 Apr 2004
Posts: 34
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| Posted:
Fri Jul 30, 2004 5:58 am |
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Failed mot again due to hand brake. First time they were unbalanced. Got it sorted out by adjusting the screws (whole rear up - yank - test - adjust - yank - etc until balanced). I noticed that the brake force was very very low if balanced.
The left wheel cylinder leaks a bit in hard brakings and maybe the brake shoes are corrupted. Neither of the cyliners seem to be working from the both sides so probably the brakes wear unevenly.
Suggestions? Would replacing brake cylinders and shoes help?
This car has always had a crappy handbrake - I've only managed to make handbrake turns on ice or snow.  |
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Chris H
Forum Moderator
Joined: 02 Mar 2004
Posts: 19978
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| Posted:
Fri Jul 30, 2004 9:08 am |
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if they are leakign then replace both of them, I have found that when they leak they work for a while then they sieze and continue to leak.
Also it also means you can usually get a good handbrake for a few applications then because the pistons int he cylinders are not moving out the self adjuster unwinds. |
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sms
Level 1 User
Joined: 22 Apr 2004
Posts: 34
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| Posted:
Mon Aug 30, 2004 5:12 am |
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Replaced both the cylinders and the shoes. Nope - still didn't work properly. The reason for the crappy braking power was that the right side brake cable was a bit too sticky and the handbrake lever inside the drum couldn't move back to its position. Sprayed WD-40 inside the cables and janked the brake with the drums off for couple of minutes. Then I noticed I was able (for the first time) to adjust right rear brake and still get the drum on it. Adjusted both sides, put everything together and went for a test drive. First on gravel - two equally long lines. Good - that hadn't happened with this car as long as I've owned it. Then onto tarmac. Same thing - squeek and two lines! Damn that was a great feeling.
It's like I've got brakes from some totally different car. The grip is something I couldn't have hoped for before with this one.
I, of course, bled the whole system and supricingly a lot of air came from the left front brake (Damn you who hadn't bled the thing properly!). And I thought that the brake pedal was soft just because the left rear cylinder leaked.
Should pass the MOT now. |
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Chris H
Forum Moderator
Joined: 02 Mar 2004
Posts: 19978
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| Posted:
Mon Aug 30, 2004 7:49 am |
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nothing better than decent brakes is there! |
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