brakes went at 60mph!!

[saviogimmi]

Driving home last night brakes went all of a sudden, used handbrake and grass verge to stop. Managed to get the van home slowly, this morning had a look and found no leaks from pipework, a small leak from the bottom resevoir pipe, but there was still plenty of fluid. I went around and bled the system in case air had got in from the leak, but its still the same spongey as a spongey thing!!!. I does stop but i have to pump hard. any ideas???

[fullsunian]

Hi, master cylinder maybe. Take rear drums off see if wheel cylinder gone...
IAN

[Titus A Duxass]

Seconded on the master cylinder - mine did exactly the same.

[saviogimmi]

are there any guides on how to do this, pics would be good too. I know there are two types one for vans with brake servo and one without , how do i know what one i have?

[toomanytoys]

Haynes manual....

What engine and year is the van? as a rule only early 1.6L aircooleds came without servo, although it was an option.. below the resevoir you will either see or not a large black chamber that the master cyl it attached too...

[eatcustard]

I would go for master cylinder.

Wife's old metro went funny, it was the master cylinder that had gone west