16 replies to this topic

[korky]

So I got a weird brake problem on my mini.. First time you press the pedal it goes to the floor, and then it pumps up real nice and the car brakes really good.

I just done replaced my front brakes (drums) and it still does it.

We also bled the brakes not long ago with a friend.

I'm thinking of replacing my rear brakes but was thinking that the problem could be elsewhere. A leak or something?

 

Where should I look? Any thoughts? Thanks!

[Rob Gavin]

Do you need to pump it every time you brake? My first thought would be that they still need adjusting before i start chsnging anything else.

Edited by Rob Gavin, 14 May 2016 - 09:52 PM.

[ChopperHarris]

You have air in the system.

Bleed again.

Use a clamp to crush the flexible pipe to each wheel to locate the worst area.

Research how to do this because all the doom mongers will arrive tomorrow and tell you loads of scary stories about doing this! Personally I just wrap a bit of cloth over the pipe and compress with Mole grips

[korky]

Do you need to pump it every time you brake? My first thought would be that they still need adjusting before i start chsnging anything else.

yea I do.

 

I'll try to bleed again..

[Rob Gavin]

I'd check the adjustment of the shoes first

[minidaves]

apply logic, check bleed adjust starting at the rear. either you have air in the system or one or more brake shoes are incorrectly adjusted, you have a leak or master cylinder shot.

[Ethel]

What master cylinder do you have? Jacking it up so you can see which wheels spin may help if it's a tandem set up.

[Stiggytoo]

Adjustment adjustment - Front and rear. Then bleed if necessary. 

[korky]

Ok so I replaced everything in the rear, as I had already ordered the parts. So shoes, springs, and even cylinders. Made the adjustment then bled the system front and rear. Lots of air came shooting out in the rear..

 

Brake pedal seems better than before but not great.

 

Tomorrow I'll adjust the front and then test drive it.

 

Cheers guys.

[korky]

Ok so the pedal is still a bit floppy, it brakes better after pumping. Thing is, it brakes HARD at the rear, meaning i'm literally doing skids everytime I'm braking... guess I gotta lighten up the rear and harden the front?

[mikal]

Sounds dangerous to me. Get a pro to sort it out.....

[Stiggytoo]

Have you adjusted the fronts properly yet? There are top and bottom adjusters on each side. They are very sensitive to adjustment. Again, the new shoes will need bedding in slightly and readjusting. 

[tb205gti]

Ok so the pedal is still a bit floppy, it brakes better after pumping. Thing is, it brakes HARD at the rear, meaning i'm literally doing skids everytime I'm braking... guess I gotta lighten up the rear and harden the front?

 

I have some of the same issues with mine. It overbrakes on the rears when braking hard. And the pedal has a lot of throw to it - unless you pump it once, then it bites "higher".

 

I'm doing some work on it, so the front is jacked up. Both wheels spins freely - they should not do that right? The shoes should grib a bit - right?

[minidaves]

brake bais valve wrong not working? , master cylinder brake pipes wrong way around?

[ChopperHarris]

did you read what I said?