Brake peddle is soft - no brakes

My Landrover 110 1990 is stored in a garage over the winter. After six months of standing still, I discover the brakes have gone.

This has happened before, and I just top up the reservoir, pump the brake peddle, and job done... but not this time.

I've seen posts about brake bleeding procedures. Do you think this is probably the problem? Everything was working fine, when garaged in September.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.... sorry if its all been said before.

If the fluid is leaving the system is leaking somewhere, seals perhaps deteriorating, getting worse. Needs sorting.

my crystal ball foresees a caliper strip down
i'm sure it goes without saying, a full fluid refresh too

The fluid has not dropped in the reservoir, does that change your thoughts...

Robertchambers said:

The fluid has not dropped in the reservoir, does that change your thoughts...

Click to expand...

Then why did you need to top up the reservoir? I'm confused

The brakes didn't work, I checked and the fluid had dropped. So I added a little to raise the level (I could still see it) to the max

you mean, previously the fluid had dropped when the brakes didnt work, this time the fluid hasnt dropped and the brakes dont work?
if you pump the pedal, do they work eventually?
when did you last do a fluid change?
suggest you open a bleed screw and check if fluid comes out when you press the pedal. if not, then bleed. if it wont bleed, yet there is fuild in the reservoir and the pedal goes to the floor, then possibly the master cylinder has failed
personally, i'd start again. take each caliper off in turn, strip/clean/rebuild, check fluid is coming from the master cylinder when you press the pedal, that might need a rebuild also

Oh blimey...thank you

As per @kermit_rr , as it's brakes...yours/others safety...give the whole system a thorough going over, cleaning up & checking every joint and flexible hoses. Then callipers and drums and master cylinder. Where fluid is dropping the system either has a leak has/had air. If no leaks and still a soft pedal it's either the master cylinder seals and/or the brake servo diaphragm letting by. Work through methodically til fault found, then refill with fluid, bleed system and top up.

Agreed with V8250 above.

Get a vaccum brake bleeder kit- they're all of 20 quid on Ebay etc- and are really very handy. Much quicker and neater than just pumping the brakes, and can be done by one person.

And start by giving it a good wash- it is so much easier to see what is going on if it is clean!

Hope is isn't the servo. The wheels and master cylinder are easy access jobs.... the servo isn't!

Never used a bleeder, if every thing is in good order just open a bleed nipple and wait for fluid to run clear [ 2 mins max] Keep reservoir topped up.
If fitting new master pour a bit of fluid in it before fitting [ this is to prevent piston sticking at the bottom on first press, they can get dry in storage] Guess how I know this.
Bleeding whole system start at brake furthest from master, go around once again.

Thank you so much. Very helpful

It's our pleasure. Any problems, call again...

You need to diagnose the brakes correctly, start the engine, pump the brakes, does the pedal get hard? if so hold you foot on it, does it eventually sink? or is there nothing there to begin with? Without this info its difficult to give you any advice, does the pedal feel normal but your brakes just dont stop the vehicle?