Brakes

Help i took my seies three for the mot . it has failed on poor brakes.the mechanic seems to think the servo is no good . but a friend has checked this over and it seems ok. there is on travel on the foot peddel.but when you apply the brake the pedal seems very hard.there is no fluid leak and the shoes have been adjusted.any body got ideas. its a diesel 1982

How old are the brake hoses? They have a habit of collapsing internally. Try blanking them of one by one with a brake hose squashinig tool and see which one it could be. Or lift the car up and spin the wheels and dab the brakes see if that uncovers the problem.

Turn the car engine off. Put your foot on the brake then start the car up. If the brake pedal drops slightly then your servo is OK. If it doesn't, it isn't.

Servo is 'power assistance'- your SI/II/III can pass without it - test relates to braking, not how hard you have to press pedal. Check for contaminated shoes (previous fluid leak etc) and ridge on drums first-stopping full contact between shoes and drums. 'flap wheel' in drill (but buy a cheap drill - they're not designed for lateral forces so bearings wear out etc) to remove ridge, new shoes (or real cowboy 'fix' - 'flame' them with petrol (brake fluid flammable)) and check all pistons move (in slave cylinders). F**ked hoses will allow some pedal travel (replace them anyway - they're cheap) but if pedal is 'hard' either fluid is not moving to cylinders (collapsed hoses possible) or shoes not gripping(assuming master cylinder ok). Pressure should 'free' "stuck" slave cylinders (Only once had to use 12,000psi Wanner 'grease gun' to free one - I waspoor :-( ) - If you can't afford appx.£16 per axle for new cylinders (and if this is the cause) you can rebuild slave 'cylinders' (or whatever they're called) for approx. £2each - seal kit, v.fine wet&dry and time.
Removeonedrum at a time (excuse spacebar and 'd' - neither work well), move pistons back &fore . Get someone to press peddal while you watch. Ifall move ok (or if onyour own, try moving pistons 'in&out'yourselfto check cylinders ok) then hard pedal problem either contam. shoes, ridges or master cyl. prob..
Ihad this on a SII butit was contaminated shoes.Brake system perfect but shoes 'full of oil'.
I'm not "Mr Tech" so anything I say is either personal experience or 'hearsay' (but I'll say if it's SEE (someone else's experience) but if it sounds similarto aprobI've had, willtry to help. Ifit's anyuse, Hoorah! - Can anyone fix my keyboard..... ;-)

thanks for this info guys . i will keep you posted on myprogress
cheers spike