inconsistent brake pressure

Post by **peacocks83** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 10:44 pm

'maurice' failed his mot on poor rear brakes and leaking halfshafts - after replacing the seals etc in the halfshafts and fitting new cylinders on the rear, new shoes all round and bleeding the system several times i still have inconsistent pressure on the first pedal press - second press is fine, but after a minute or so of non-use the first pedal press pressure is poor again. could this mean i have a problem with the master cylinder? or is this one of the usual anomalies with minor brakes i've read about? any comments readily accepted. thanks!

Post by **aupickup** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 10:47 pm

possibly look for air bubbles in the master cylinder when the peddle is depressed slowly

Post by **peacocks83** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 11:07 pm

is that when you have the cylinder filler cover off? i've mistakenly pressed the pedal when the cover is off and received a squirt of fluid!

Post by **aupickup** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 11:10 pm

yes with the cover off, and as i said press the pedal slowly and look for air bubbles

Post by **Willie** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 9:56 am

You SHOULD see a spurt of fluid when you depress the brake pedal
so that is no problem. If the pedal gets harder when you pump
it then your shoes are too far away from the drums. The rears have
to be set up properly which means slackening off the hand brake cables
and then adjusting the brakes. Only then do you set the handbrake
cables to start binding at 3 clicks of the lever. If you have air in the
fluid then the pedal will feel spongey and nothing you do will alter that
until the air is removed. (air is compressible so each time you press
the pedal the air 'gives' before the brakes are operated).