MOT fail - please tell me how to fix these things

[Hoopy_Frood]

Marv failed his mot, I am sad

I think I've got a handle on a lot of it, but I'm not sure how to go about fixing these:

front brake binding nearside
rear brake excessively fluctuating offside
rear brake fluctuating but not excessively nearside (advisory)

Does it all need replacing?



Thanks

Iain

[DoubleOSeven]

Front brake. Take the brake shoes out and lever the piston in, this should free it up. Rears, pull the hubs off clean up the drum brakes, check they return properly and bleed the brakes. That should do it.


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[Aidan]

without inspecting it how can anyone answer that question ?

1984 van so you may have twin piston caliper at front in which case it may want exchanging if you can't do a refurbish on it yourself but check also the condition of the brake disc and pads for signs to indicate what the problem actually is, it may all be beyond the wear limits, maybe just a stone caught in the caliper

rears need inspecting may only want setting up properly may want new parts and setting up properly

[mgbman]

Front binding sounds like a stuck calliper piston to me. How often do you drive your van? My son had this with his seldom used 1980 Devon, solution new callipers and pads on front both sides. At the same time we replaced hoses and disks. Sorted.

On the rears, you would need to remove the drums and inspect whats there. Maybe worn out shoes, dust, adjusters, leaking wheel cylinder, oval drum.???

You can't tell without taking the drums off.

Good brakes are vital, maybe its time to replace all.

[California Dreamin]

front brake binding nearside: as others had said, you will probably end up fitting an 'exchange' brake caliper, you just need to find out whether its ATE or GIRLING, early two pot or later sliding (later has cesent shaped brake pads...post a picture and we can tell you what it is.
Rear brake excessively fluctuating offside : Likely the drum is slightly oval, the van has probably had some cheap aftermarket replacements at some time. For what they cost I would be inclined to buy a pair and just swap them over...obviously clean up the shoes and re-adjust at the same time.
Rear brake fluctuating but not excessively nearside (advisory): as above.

Not a massive job, a couple of hours tops..bleed the brakes etc.

Martin

[Hoopy_Frood]

Thanks all.

I'm replacing the rear drums, shoes and cylinders. Once I've had a proper look at the front, I'll see what calipers I have and how bad they are.

Since I've now got a subaru engine in, I was thinking about upgrading the front brakes. I don't really want to change my wheels (15" Ronal Pentas) though, so what options are there?


Thanks

Iain

[mgbman]

If I were you I would replace all front brakes as well while your at it. You can source new callipers, disks, pads, fitting kit, hoses. Keep the old callipers as they are worth money.

Brakes are the most important spend on the van.

[Hoopy_Frood]

Brakes are the most important spend on the van.

Makes good sense to me does that.

Are there any bigger brakes that fit without major surgery needed?

[mgbman]

Maybe someone will be able to advise on that one. Our T25 is stock with stock CU engine and stock brakes all round. New brakes do make a big difference especially on the fronts.

Maybe worth you starting a new thread on upgraded brakes for Subaru powerful engine.