+2 BRAKES

[gsl]

HI GUYS JUST FIRED UP THE ELAN FOR FIRST TIME THIS YEAR AND THE BRAKE PEDAL IS SOLID.NOT SURE WHERE TO START,ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.
GEORGE
73 +2

[types26/36]

HI GUYS JUST FIRED UP THE ELAN FOR FIRST TIME THIS YEAR AND THE BRAKE PEDAL IS SOLID.

Try pressing the brakes without the engine not running to see if they feel different, could be that the servo is sticking.

[gsl]

THANKS BRIAN TRIED THAT ABSOLUTELEY NO MOVEMENT ON PEDAL
GEORGE

[types26/36]

TRIED THAT ABSOLUTELEY NO MOVEMENT ON PEDAL

I once had a similar problem, started the car and pressed the brakes, they went rock solid and were locked on, the servo was holding the brakes on. The only way I could get it to release was to lose a hydraulic pipe to let the pressure out, next application of the brakes.....same thing...locked again.
The problem was in the servo related to the rod operating the diaphragm.
Are your brakes locked on or is it just that the pedal feels solid? what servo is fitted...Lockheed or Girling?

[Gordon Sauer]

No movement of the pedal as if the pedal is seized on the carrier; The pedal itself swivels with a shaft and I did on my plus 2 have that seize up but after a lot longer than a year Gordon Sauer

[Jason1]

Is the master cylinder reservoir dry?

[gsl]

PLENTY OF FLUID IN RESERVOIR HAVENT CHECKED TO SEE IF PEDAL IS SIEZED AND DONT KNOW WHICH SERVO IS FITTED.DID,NT TRY MOVING CAR SO DONT KNOW IF BRAKES ARE LOCKED ON.
BUT WILL CHECK ALL OF THE ABOVE

THANKS
GEORGE

[Jaybee]

I've had the same problem with the clutch pedal it turned out to be the master cylinder air was sieved solid. I suspect you have a similar problem I would be very surprised if its the servo. John

[TonyJ]

Help! Looks like same thing has happend to me.

De-seized one front brake piston, bled brakes and took for test drive. Everything was fine. Parked up and washed car. Went to drive it into garage and all brakes locked on. Open bleed nipple on front caliper and all brakes came off. Drove it into garage and used brakes - all lock on again. Brake pedal is solid.

Is it master cylinder or servo? Not alot of time to sort so would like to know what my best bet is?

Got Eden Valley car parade on Monday so would like to sort tomorrow Sunday if possible

Any help would be great. Thanks,

Tony

[richardcox_lotus]

Hey Tony I'm in that - hope you get it sorted.

Are you sure it's nothing to do with "washing the car" - seizing the brakes temporarily ? (mine does that). Have you tried just rocking the car ??

Regards
Richard

[worzel]

Hi

It's probably the little valve situated behind the air filter on the servo (I assume your servo is a Lockheed one). It's probably sticking.
Look thru the archives for a fix- it's a fix for free (almost) repair involving fitting a "helper" spring.

regards

John

[TonyJ]

Well I've taken the servo apart. The piston is not what I would call perfectly smooth running but it moves easily, a little jerky - it looks in good condition - the servo was new when bought over five years ago and fitted last year.

Took the 'air valve' out and it does not have 2 washers so that fix isn't an issue - hopefully - is it? Looked through posts re air valve and read the Lockhead answer as regards a helper spring so unsure about fitting a helper spring. Do have the spring in the removable air vent bit.

Put it all back together and press pedal - all brakes lock on! Something is not releasing but what - is it the piston in the servo - it looks in great condition - is a little jerky movement an issue?

The master cylinder presses and returns with pedal.

Eden Valley car parade is not looking likely

I'll try the air valve again and make sure it's clean.

Wouldn't be so bad if I hadn't have to put a new copper brake pipe in form master cylinder to servo as the union thread servo end was not mating. Luckily had a spare that is too long!

Any ideas that can have me going for tomorrow very gratefully received. Or is it a servo rebuild?

Tony

[richardcox_lotus]

Tony - have you tried to bridge the inlet & output connection & bypass the servo completely ??

[TonyJ]

I was going to by pass the servo but I think I've sorted it

When I bled the brakes I got the 'better half' to push the pedal all the way down. This meant that the master cylinder went to fully open and then did not return far enough to open the lock valve - hence, I think, why people put a washer between pedal box and master cylinder. This is what I hope was happening I am now a wizz at stripping the servo and reassembling. I now know to check the brake pedal is FULLY returning - it was returning so I though the master cylinder was ok lesson learnt

Having search and read the forum I tried pulling up the brake pedal and heard a noise and I thought 'I wonder if that's the brakes coming off?' - it was no more locked on brakes.

So bled not going all the way to the floor and the brakes are not locked on. Didn't lock on during short test drive either.

So we'll drive slowly, with minimal braking, to Edenbridge tomorrow and hope the brakes behave. I'll take a bleed nipple spanner!

I will look into fitting a washer between pedal box and master cylinder. Not doing it today as I'm not looking forward to disconnecting the brake pedal form the push rod

What a fun Sunday! Now have to clean white marks off the engine bay and touch up where brake fluid dripped and has taken black paint off despite being careful not to allow brake fluid to drip.

Let's hope it's sorted!

Tony

[richardcox_lotus]

Well done Tony - hope to see you there tomorrow !!

Regards
Richard