1978 88in series 3 brake problems!

hi there,i have a 1978 series 3 88in with a serios brake pedal problem,i have replaced all wheel cylinders, master cylinder and have adjusted up all the brakes, and i still have a probolem. i adjusted the rod a few days ago and the pedal was right at the top, a few miles later the brakes siezed on so i got it home and baked the rod off a bit, it then started muking me about,one minute it would be at the top or normal, then it would travel nearly to the floor ,it has now gone compleatly and i have no brakes ,has anyone got any ideas please that would be much appriciated as i have no way of stopping at the moment but pumping the pedal rapidly and my handbrake as rearly mine actuly works !

thanks tom

Have you checked for leaks?
Have a look see if the fluid level in the reservoir has dropped.
If the level is ok would guess the master cylinder is at fault. Was it a new one fitted or second hand?

it was a new one from britpart, and new wheel cylinders ,ino there a u know what to bleed, but all the bits are new and iv bled them more times than you can think, the fluid in the resouvour hasnt droped and its not risn so no leaks, i did think i might be drawing in air but theres no leaks so thats not a possible probolem, so i think where i drove it for a few days with sort of no brakes may have fooked the master cylinder up.

okay well what ill do is ill buy a decent master cylinder and fit annother one to it.

tom1disco.300 said:

it was a new one from britpart, and new wheel cylinders ,ino there a u know what to bleed, but all the bits are new and iv bled them more times than you can think, the fluid in the resouvour hasnt droped and its not risn so no leaks, i did think i might be drawing in air but theres no leaks so thats not a possible probolem, so i think where i drove it for a few days with sort of no brakes may have fooked the master cylinder up.

okay well what ill do is ill buy a decent master cylinder and fit annother one to it.

Click to expand...

There's your problem, send it back, get your money back and pay the extra for a decent one

yea well i am thinking about doing that,but i bled them out like alot today and backed the rod off a few turns on the nut and i now have brakes , and thair not actuly that bad but weell see how they go ,weather they stay like that or not dont know but anyways thankyou for the tips and advise much appriciated!

Does your Series 3 diesel have a brake servo. I once had a lady come into my garage complaining that her Series 3 LWB diesel had little or no brakes, she said she had taken it to the local garage on three occassions and they had not been able to rectify the problem. I drove the vehicle a short distance then lifted the bonnet. I said to her she needed a new throttle cable, she look at me as though I was mad. I fitted a new cable, brakes perfect. The cable was frayed and not allowing the butterfly flap in the inlet manifold to close right up, therefore no Vaccum. The lady said she had spent a lot of money on the brakes and that I had cured the problem for a fraction of the price. One customer I had for life.

tap the master cylinder with a hammer on each release of pedal, sometimes master cylinders do not return and you won't bleed it correctly.

Numerous vehicles I have had this

Wish l read this post before ordering my new servo.
The brakes on my series 3 are hard, but work okay with extra pressure applied to pedal.

Tested the servo yesterday and nothing was happening, so just assumed it would be servo or valve on servo.