Series 3 No brakes

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ging360

ging360

Active Member
Posts
162
Hi everyone

Got a major problem here. When pushing the brake pedal I knoticed that it was quite soft and had to pump it twice to get it to do anything, the garage suggested that this is due to the shoes needing adjustment but have driven it a bit more after this suggestion the problem has gotten worse to the point no matter how much you pump the pedal no brakes are applied. There is no discernable loss of break fluid so I'm a bit stuck as to what it might be my best guess is that it's the master cylinder, though have you guys got any thoughts. The time period for this all happening start to finish was over a day of driving with the pedal being fine initially then suddenly needing to be pumped to apply the brakes.
 
IF you are not losing fluid then I'd tend to have a look at the flexible hoses and check they are not ballooning. I've had that before on a car - it blew the hose up with no pressure at the wheels at all. Otherwise I'd then be looking at the master cylinder as my next port of call.
 
chris-the-gerbil said:
IF you are not losing fluid then I'd tend to have a look at the flexible hoses and check they are not ballooning. I've had that before on a car - it blew the hose up with no pressure at the wheels at all. Otherwise I'd then be looking at the master cylinder as my next port of call.
Click to expand...

Right thanks I will have a check of the hoses.
 
Check the brake pedal for any sign of leakage in the cab, did you adjust the brakes?
Also the pins on some shoes that the adjuster acts upon have been known to come out allowing the return springs to pull the shoes away from the drum further than one stroke of the pedal will return them.
You could jack wheels up and turn adjuster to see if it locks the drum if it does not pins are gone or adjuster is not working.
You best pull the drums off to check the adjuster pins are in place , Mintex shoes have a bad rerputation for this. I bought some 2nd hand 11" brake backplates with cylinders shoes and drums just recently , the shoes had one pin missing and two slack , major problem with there design as they are just pressed in place.
 
You can check the snail adjuster pins are in place by backing the adjuster off fully. It will come to a dead stop as the pin hits the inside face of the snail......you'll need to lift the wheel anyway to adjust it back correctly so I dunno why I'm saying that really :confused:
 
Blackburn said:
Check the brake pedal for any sign of leakage in the cab, did you adjust the brakes?
Also the pins on some shoes that the adjuster acts upon have been known to come out allowing the return springs to pull the shoes away from the drum further than one stroke of the pedal will return them.
You could jack wheels up and turn adjuster to see if it locks the drum if it does not pins are gone or adjuster is not working.
You best pull the drums off to check the adjuster pins are in place , Mintex shoes have a bad rerputation for this. I bought some 2nd hand 11" brake backplates with cylinders shoes and drums just recently , the shoes had one pin missing and two slack , major problem with there design as they are just pressed in place.
Click to expand...

Agreeing with all of that. Check again for leakage, try adjustment, if not, drums off for visual check. I all that seems ok, master cylinder next. Might be worth checking the clearance on the master cylinder push rod, just in case the nut has come undone.
 
Ok guys thank you all for the replies after finally getting time to investigate I found it is the master cylinder that is leaking. I believe I am correct in thinking the 1972 station wagons are not servo assisted brakes.
IMG_0528.JPG
 
Hello Ging360. By your reply, I take it you know very little about the black art of motor mechanicalness. I'm not being rude or offensive so please don't take that the wrong way. In fact I much admire anyone who takes on a 45 year old vehicle with little knowledge of its innards, well done, landyzone is the place to be.

Col
 
Colthebrummie said:
Hello Ging360. By your reply, I take it you know very little about the black art of motor mechanicalness. I'm not being rude or offensive so please don't take that the wrong way. In fact I much admire anyone who takes on a 45 year old vehicle with little knowledge of its innards, well done, landyzone is the place to be.

Col
Click to expand...
Hi no offence taken. No I really am a little on the unknowledge able side when it comes to much out side of engines and transfer boxes related to cars. I'm a marine engineer to trade which means I get a little lost around brakes and more car specific systems. I have had the vehicle for a little over 3 years now but until recently haven't done much in the way of maintenance my self as i didn't have the time with college.
 
Hi Ging, getting back to your pic, you are right, what you have there doesn't have a servo. If you want to invest the time and some money, you can fit a servo and better brakes from other models. My 1977 lwb station wagon has dual circuit brakes with a servo and bigger brake drums and shoes and they work surprisingly well on such a heavy vehicle. A sharp dab on the pedal will lock up the rear wheels. Good luck.

Col
 
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