Improving Rubbish Brakes

Discussion in 'Mech Tech' started by Dazza, Feb 18, 2019.

  1. Dazza

    Dazza Eyebrow not high brow

    ive never been happy with my brakes , last year I gave them a full overhaul , new callipers and pads and rear shoes, it’s had a new master cylinder and some new pipes, new fluid and adjusted correctly .
    But the brakes are still rubbish , it doesn’t have a servo so I expect to put more effort into braking but I think they should be better .
    The pedal has never felt solid , it’s always been spongy - I’m thinking maybe braided hoses will help - any thoughts on the hoses or other tips ?
     
  2. PIE

    PIE

    Could you not put a remote servo on it?
     
  3. Dazza

    Dazza Eyebrow not high brow

    I’ve considered it and would do but I have had it said that even a non servo should stop efficiently but with more effort required ( I’ve 19 stone to put on the brake pedal)
     
  4. Faust

    Faust Supporter

    Hi Dazza ...you mention full overhaul did that include new rear drums ?
     
  5. Dazza

    Dazza Eyebrow not high brow

    No, just cleaned them up , probably shouldn’t have stated ‘full’ overhaul :thumbsup:
     
  6. Faust

    Faust Supporter

    Stick a new set of shoes on with new drums so they bed in together ...made one hell of a difference with mine .
    They might not get the contact new shoes on to old drums as the old shoes would have worn the drums in a certain way .

    Well you have done everything else .
     
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  7. Dazza

    Dazza Eyebrow not high brow

    Good shout , I’ll give that a go :thumbsup:
     
  8. How many miles have you done since overhaul ? Assume you’ve readjusted and rebled ? Could just need to bedding in ?
     
  9. Dazza

    Dazza Eyebrow not high brow

    I haven’t re- adjusted Barn, I’m going to do that next along with a bleed session as a starting point - had to put them to the test yesterday on the way home from DubFreeze - I wasn’t impressed - if I had to do an emergency stop - I don’t think I could .. quite worrying , I normally drive cautiously and with anticipation whilst in the camper and slow down though the gears and manage just fine - but I don’t have the confidence they’ll do what they should in an emergency situation, never been an issue at MOT time though
     
    art b likes this.
  10. Might do um good to have a couple of slams or ride um a bit . It is good to keep your distance n use gears anyway . I found mine worked fine when and if needed but they defo need ta be readjusted and bedded in etc , especially after renewing . Prob be ok once redone and jumped on a few times , errrm don’t do this with new Ferrari in front of ya thou :D good luck :thumbsup:
     
    Dazza likes this.
  11. Have you changed the brake fluid, when I did mine the fluid was rather brown, I understand it is hygroscopic and should be changed every couple of years
    Just reread and you have done the fluid, what state are the flexis?
     
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  12. Brakes should be pretty good, even without a servo. Rear drums adjusted up? Air in system?
     
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  13. As said, my mgb has no brake servo and the brakes are excellent just using pedal pressure. You did a partial overhaul but I assume the flexis were not replaced and the rear wheel cylinders also not replaced. So you don't need a servo which is an expensive item, you could spend the money instead on new drums, flexis and wheel cylinders.
     
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  14. Brake pad and shoe linning choice can have a noticeable affect some are harder than others, JP seem to be particulary bad, I always fit ATE or TRW pad/shoes
     
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  15. Moons

    Moons Supporter

    Mine is non servo and stopped fine until I changed the master cylinder, and flushed the system through.

    It's taken quite a few bleeds to get it back to normal, though I'm fitting Goodrich hoses at some point.
     
    Dazza likes this.
  16. matty

    matty Supporter

    Your say it’s still spongy then it’s probably air in the system or the master cylinder or possibly the rubber hoses

    And make sure the rears are adjusted properly
     
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  17. Dubs

    Dubs Sponsor supporter extraordinaire

    Next time you are under the van, have a butcher's at the master cylinder, behind the rubber boot that the pushrod goes through. I have had two brand new ones leak in the space of 6 months...
     
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  18. mikedjames

    mikedjames Supporter

    Sponginess can be down to not slackening off the handbrake cables when doing the rear brake adjustment. You end up over slackening the adjusters to compensate for the handbrake being slightly on, the shoes only touch at the top and not really with any pressure at the bottom, and then you have to provide more pressure with the pedal when you hit the brake.
     
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  19. Dazza

    Dazza Eyebrow not high brow

    Thanks for all the replies folks - I think I’ll replace the flexis , flush the fluid through and readjust and go from there , sounds like they should be better than they are currently though
     
    Valveandy likes this.

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