Gun7354

Gun7354

Well-Known Member
Now I've read and re-read all the posts ref brakes and 'believe' I have an answer to my failure of adjusting my front 11 inch series drums. I get a great pedal after two pumps on the pedal. The first one nearly goes to the floor. After pressure bleeding and doing it the old way I 'think' the issue is knacked snail cam adjusters. I can only 'feel' clicks when adjusting one out of the four on the front so I'm thinking that once I've adjusted them the springs are just pulling the shoes to far back again!

So new drums on order and cams (drums felt rather worn and oval as they would seem free then stop on the shoe). Any help / guidance greatly received especially if someone else has been through this. The pedal holds really well on the second pump so I don't suspect the Master cylinder.

Thanks in advance

Rich
 
I had the double pump problem with the added excitement of it pulling sharply to the near side, so much so that when I first drove it, I nearly ended up in a ditch. I thought my drums were out of true and I'd read about a lot of people changing them but in reality I think oval drums are a rarity. My shoes had worn badly down on one edge which meant they were not sitting square to the back plate and this was why it would rub on part of the drum but not the other. If you haven't changed the shoes yet do it and make sure you put the springs in the right way and the shoes are square to the backplate. Now my series brakes are quite impressive for a 109 station wagon with drums.

Col
 
Many thanks for all your replies. The cams did move the shoes when the drum was off but looked rather worn and like i stated i couldn't 'feel' them clicking into place on the shoe so made adjusting a nightmare.
 
When I replaced the cam's on my 109 [ some time ago ] the kit came with two sizes of cam. Check your replacements are the same.
 
Take time getting the cams to turn freely, if they are still you can't fele the cliks as its a tiny click. I also cleaned up the little pips in the cam so I could feel it a bit more
 
Cams all replaced, one side had been fitted wrong which wont help. Ive clamped both front brake cylinders, bled all the air out and the pedals the same. One pump to the floor (off about an inch) and second spot on. I can see fluid coming back into the MC so now im thinking its the MC. The brakes have been bled all round using a pressure bleeder and the old school way of someone pumping the brakes etc.

My great idea of replacing the flexi hoses is turning out to a right pain in the ass :(
 
Are the springs on correct , on my 11” front brakes one side has the piston free to move out unrestrained , if I attached the spring wrong it would pull it back in and require the two pumps you mention, does it go to post rather than brake shoe
 
steve2286w said:
Are the springs on correct , on my 11” front brakes one side has the piston free to move out unrestrained , if I attached the spring wrong it would pull it back in and require the two pumps you mention, does it go to post rather than brake shoe
Click to expand...
Absolutely agree. Make sure the shoes are spot on and everything located properly before changing the master cylinder. The problem is nearly always with the shoes rather than the MC unless of course there are signs of brake fluid leaks.

Col
 
My master cylinder failed and the symtoms were a soft pedal that never got firm but no leaks as it was by-passing internally. If it gets firm I would suspect the wheel/brake first.
 
rob1miles said:
My master cylinder failed and the symtoms were a soft pedal that never got firm but no leaks as it was by-passing internally. If it gets firm I would suspect the wheel/brake first.
Click to expand...
Had exactly the same issue, didn't know it was the master cylinder till I took it off and fluid poured out of the back..... bit of a give away.
 
Thank you for the fab replies. So.....took all the wheels off and found 1 damp, dodgy looking brake cylinder which was also set up wrong. The rear spring at the top went from shoe to shoe hence the double pump. Now i have a great pedal (all cylinders held in with cable ties at the mo). So now to order a new brake cylinder and see how that goes. You've gotta love previous owners / garages.

Rich
 
Mine had 3 radials and a cross ply, the rear brakes were full of oil because the hub seals were in back to front and the MOT was 3 days old!
 
Update - new brake cylinder and a quick bleed all round and i have fantastic brakes. Cant believe I've spent nearly 3 years thinking a double pump on the brakes was normal for a series 3.

Thank you all for the top tips.

Heres to the next job......
 
When I had a 109 it pulled to the right going forward and to the left going in reverse because it was fitted with two left
hand brake units on the front.:eek::rolleyes:
 
Years ago I was fixing the near side rear brake on my mother's Avenger (ex GPO). Car parts guy said its a change over year, buy both years parts and bring the unwanted ones back. No I said, I'm sure its this one (trying to save a second journey) I was wrong so I went back and exchanged the parts, still only took one type. Fixed the brake then went to do the other side and it was the first type, So I ended up with 3 trips not one and two packs of parts. Not happy.
 
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