Dodgy Brakes

New shoes will take a while to bed in properly

I can certainly confirm from experience that there is a huge difference between unassisted brakes and servo assisted brakes on a series.

The former were dreadful, although there may have been some adjustment issues, but my current 109 has a single circuit with servo and they are (were) very good. Maybe not quite modern car standard but I thought they were impressive given previous experience.

It has stood for a while now though so I'm sure I'll have some work ahead of me.

Unassisted just means you need to be a bit more manly with your brakes. If properly maintained and adjusted, you should easily be able to lock up the wheels with a hefty stamp

kermit_rr said:

Unassisted just means you need to be a bit more manly with your brakes. If properly maintained and adjusted, you should easily be able to lock up the wheels with a hefty stamp

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Yeah I reckon they needed some adjustment or other attention, they were OK but I have ingrained on my mind one occasion when I nearly lost control of it down a hill. It wasn't fade, they just weren't slowing me down by a comfortable amount and it had just jumped out of first gear - it wouldn't go back into 1st and I think 2nd just about gave enough engine braking to check the speed until the hill flattened out.

6pot said:

Yeah I reckon they needed some adjustment or other attention, they were OK but I have ingrained on my mind one occasion when I nearly lost control of it down a hill. It wasn't fade, they just weren't slowing me down by a comfortable amount and it had just jumped out of first gear - it wouldn't go back into 1st and I think 2nd just about gave enough engine braking to check the speed until the hill flattened out.

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you mean you actually lost engine-braking unexpectedly, even with super modern brakes this will still give you a trouser-colour altering moment

kermit_rr said:

you mean you actually lost engine-braking unexpectedly, even with super modern brakes this will still give you a trouser-colour altering moment

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It was steep, 1st or 2nd gear speed territory, loose surface, single track with a bend at the bottom. I thought if anyone comes round the bend the other way or I can't take the corner when we get there, we're fcuked

It was the first time I'd gone down that particular track so indeed wasn't expecting it to happen. If I say so myself a manly struggle resulted in an OK outcome and future excursions were in low range 2nd gear, I never got round to looking at the gearbox to sort out the jumping out of 1st issue.

The brakes did need a certain amount of thinking ahead even in normal traffic, I'm amazed they were good enough to pass the MOT (ITV in fact, it was the Spanish Santana). I remember watching the needles go up on the readout and I think I just heaved the pedal down hard enough to make them look OK!

you need to fix jumping out of gear, it will only get worse.. worn/broken spring if i recall

kermit_rr said:

you need to fix jumping out of gear, it will only get worse.. worn/broken spring if i recall

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Sold it about 15 years ago

Current 109's gearbox sweet except makes a horrible noise in reverse. Will look at that in due course. Brakes were best I've ever experienced in a Series, probably not so good now but again will get sorted eventually.

Modern shoes are **** poor....if you take the drums off look see it all of the lining is in contact with the drum.....maybe just part of the shoe.....BAD.

Check the hdy cylinders are free to move in the cylinders.....no leaking gear oil or brake fluid.

Just a load of dust floating around inside the brake drum can play havoc with braking....gets in if the landover has been wading....

Just a good look at each wheel brake should show the prob.

If no confident get some who is to look.

Nick.