Brakes. What im i doing wrong ???

[kennatt]

Just took her out for a proper test drive and the brakes firm up if i pump them once or twice , does that mean there is still air in the system ????
Looks like im off to buy another Ltr of Dot 4.

Thought you said they didn't go hard classic test for badly adjusted brakes as mbc says adjust them up

[gammy126]

They didn't go hard until i bled them the second and 3 time, I will try adjusting them so they bite harder even thought i tightened them all tight up before bleeding then loosened them off one click when i was bleeding.

Cheers for your comments

Alan

[mike.perry]

If you push your foot hard on the brake pedal does it gradually sink to the floor?

[gammy126]

Hi Mike
Iv just been out to check.
If you just push the pedal it goes easily to the floor with a little pressure right towards the bottom.
If you pump it 4 / 5 times the pedal goes hard at around 3/4 depressed. If you take your foot off and press again it goes back to being as first described.

Thanks for your interest.
Cheers
Alan

[gammy126]

Just been out again ( in the rain )
Taken both front wheels off and checked the adjustments , both cylinders on each wheel are 1 click from solid.
Have backed them off again, wheels back on.
I assume you asked if the pedal went slowly down that would indicate a leak or bleed nipple not tightened up. all seems ok.

Alan

[bmcecosse]

And the rears ?? But the idea was to make them all 'solid' and then report how the pedal responds.

[mike.perry]

It would indicate a leak or faulty master cylinder.
Make sure that all the bleed valves are closed, top up the master cylinder and press the brake pedal regularly over about 10 minutes, then check to see if the fluid level has dropped in the master cylinder.

[bmcecosse]

Faulty master would show as slowly sinking pedal....... I believe this is just adjustment and bleeding. We STILL haven't heard if the pump up/quick open-shut method has been tried..........

[gammy126]

will try the pump method tomorrow and get back to you.

Once again thank you for all your help and advise.

Alan

[Trickydicky]

Hi,

You may want to remove the M/C cover and look for any sign of fluid in the chassis leg, M/C`s tend to corrode at the bottom of the bore which results in fluid leaking past the seal and out from the front of the cylinder.
If it is the M/C dont bother with replacement seals just replace it with a new one, its not worth the pain pf removing it twice.....

Richard

[gammy126]

Tried pump method and it didn't make much if and difference, air still came out even after another 500ml bottle of fluid going through them. It still firms up on a second pump, which is the feeling I'm expecting from the first . If that makes sense. Tried pressing the pedal to see if it sinks and it didn't and the fluid stayed constant .
I gave up in the end and rang a local garage, they used a vac suckie pump thing , it cost me £30 and its still the same . .

At a loss. Tatton Show tomorrow, Ill get some one else to try the brakes and Ill try other moggies out to see if its just me expecting more , before i save for another M/C.

Thanks for all your input.
Best wishes

Alan

[bmcecosse]

Well -we should really advise you NOT to drive with faulty brakes....... How did you set the rear brakes ? You need to slacken back the handbrake cables, then adjust up the brakes so they are lightly rubbing - and then re-adjust the cables to put the handbrake action where you like it.

[gammy126]

Didn't slacken off the hand brake . Didn't know I had to . The brakes do stop with a single pump and i only drive slow , so i will have another go over the weekend. They have never been great and have never locked on an emergency stop at even 10 mph . I could take the car to Millennium Motors in Manchester for them to take a look at, but I'm sure i wouldn't get any change from £150 which i haven't got.

I will carry on as you only learn by experience.
Regards
Alan

[gammy126]

http://mmoc.org.uk/mbimage.php?src=1307563576_1899

Just got back from Tatton Park Show where i bought a Genuine Lockheed M /C kit.
Iv checked the bits against the pic and there seems to be 2 bits missing A Valve Cup and a Spring seat . Should they be in the pack ??? as i can't remember putting any of the above back in to my M / C last time i had it out.

Another daft question which in the front of the spring the wide end of the narrow.

I'm asking because I'm not sure if my M / C bits where in the right order when i last stripped it down I replaced the same way as they came out but i just want to make sure that I'm doing it right as the brakes have never been good and if the person who had the car put the bits in wrong id just be copying his mistake and ill still have the problems I have now.

If the bits missing should be in the pack has anyone got spares that i can buy.

Just checking before i take the thing out this weekend.

Many thanks

Alan