oldminiman

New Member
I have a problem when the car is used first thing or after it has stood for a while. Its a 1982 S3 County Station Wagon and the front brakes grab on the first few applications. In particular the off side.

I suspect rust forming in the drum overnight or when left as once they have been applied a few times they are fine and there is no loss of fliuid to suggest a leak.

I have my first French MOT next Friday and wondered before I strip down whether anyone else had experienced the same problem?:)
 
Yep looked at that and not the problem. All cyliders leak free, no fluid loss, all steering joints good and secure.

I have found that if I park around the other way and it gets the weather on the opposite side, innitially, the brakes will pull to that side instead. The brakes on first application squeak and are severe but after a few applications or driving with the brakes applied the squeeking stops, the brakes are less fierce and they brake squarely with no pulling. Being a series 3 the brakes are drums all round. I am therefore convinced that the problem is overnght corrosion within the drums and that is making them innitially fierce and noisy.

I have decided to see what the MOT reveals and then to probably replace the drums all round which are probably the originals. The outsides were very corroded and AM AWARE THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER USED IT TO DRAG BOATS OUT OF THE SEA IN SCOTLAND.

mike
 
Since I last wrote I have noticed that the near side lower cylinder has commenced leaking. WHen I looked it was very slightly wet but not dripping or on the linings, today whilst beneath sorting the exhaust I noticed a staining on the n/s tyre and low and behold a small dew drop hanging on the back back plate. Just pased the French MOT on brakes so lucky. I took the drums off and gave them a good clean with a soft wire brush on the edge and around the braking surface before the MOT and it was fine. Today it juddered and obviously the leaking fluid has fouled the linings and is now grabbing.
 

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