Brakes or handbrake?

[luflorence]

Hi there

My husband and I took our Morris out for a drive yest to which we could go no further it started slowing down and chuddering when we got out to have a look the break lights were constantly on almost like the break pads might be sticking, or got stuck!

Back to square one it was only last summer we have finally got it on the road and it seems to be playing up again...
Could this be a simple thing or quite costly, just wondering if anyone else has experienced it or knows of maybe a smilar problem, our mechanic who worked on it last year has retired so bit of a pain having to find another mechanic again!

Lucy

[faversham999]

when you lay the car up its best not to leave the Handbrake on

[luflorence]

What do you mean when its in a garage? Sorry confused also new to Morris's

[chickenjohn]

Hello Lucy,
Sorry to hear of your mechanical troubles!
Which part of the country are you in? Join your local branch of the MMOC and I'm sure you will find a member who may be willing to do the mechanical work for you.

It sounds like the brakes are sticking on as it is pressure related as the pressure switch is coming on and causing the brake lights to turn on.

I would suspect the master cylinder- it may need a re-build or an adjustment to the linkage between the brake pedal and master cylinder. Go to your local branch and find a knowledgeable club member who is willing to help. If you are in the Kent area, I would help you out. If it is an adjustment or work on the master cylinder, it need not be expensive!

cheers
john

[luflorence]

Hi John

Thanks very much for yr info, we live in Loughton area so its trying to find someone round here that would be able to help.
I will do what you say and log on to that to find out if there is anyone near by.

It was working perfectly a couple of months back and now all of a sudden this is playing up?

Thanks

Lucy.

[RobThomas]

Grab the brake pedal and haul it backwards into the car. It may be that the pedal is not returning all the way and thus holding the brakes on. Corrosion in the cylinder will do this but also your pedal shaft may be sticking.

If the bulbs stay lit then your master cylinder is the problem.
New cylinder circa £70
Purchase/rent/borrow manly assistant with spanners/sockets/long bar/big muscles etc.
Remove seat and carpet from drivers' side.
undo about 20 brass posidrive (?) screw-headed bolts from round cover of geabox (or just about 8 if you have a small independent cover over the silver filler plug under the heel of the driver.
Undo 2 nuts from inside face of chassis leg and slide the bolts outboard, past the big steel torsion bar (may need careful levering out of the way).
Undo brake unions (about 7/16 to 9/16 AF spanner size (?)

Reverse the procedure and then bleed the brakes.

A garage would maybe charge £150 for labour but you can loosen bolts and add some WD40 etc to help out.

Hope this helps.

[luflorence]

Ooooh thank you so much for all yr replies, maybe we will give that a go first...

THANKS ALOT

[ASL642]

Try contacting the Essex branch - Desmond Brick (Billericay)012seven7 65three115 or desju at talktalk dot net He may be able to put you in touch with someone who could help.

[bmcecosse]

You say break(sic) pads - so I'm guessing you have disc brakes on the front ? In this case - the master cylinder must be modified by removing the 'top hat' seal - if you don't do this the front brakes will drag horribly. Although - I wouldn't expect the brake lights to come on.When this happens - release a brake nipple momentarily - and report back if this puts the lights off, and allows the car to roll freely.

[polo2k]

Hi there,
Looking at your original post it states that the lights are on, and that the car chugged to a stop.

Are the two related? If I wer in your situation, I would check if the brakes are on by taking it out of gear and taking off the handbrake. Then see if it will roll when pushed.

If it will move then you may have an electrical gremlin, and possibly an engine fault.

If it wont, then time to look at the brakes. If the brake lights are on, they are simply indicating pressure in the brake system. Since the system is sealed this means that the pressure generated when applying the brakes, is not releasing. Hence the master cylinder diagnosises above.


Was the car running perfectly before? any stange noises or smells, or feelings when driving?

The reason I mention "smells" is that it would be expected that a failure of this type would come on gradually (progressive) this process would most likly make your brakes drag for a while.
Even if there are any long lingering issues, please mention them

[mike.perry]

Have the brakes been adjusted before this problem? Was the handbrake adjusted before the back brakes? This can cause the brakes to drag, not sure if it would affect the brake lights but a sticking brake light switch could also be a co incidence.
Jack the car up and check if it is one wheel dragging or all of them.