Club 80-90 Forums

Hi all

I've had a good read through old posts on the above but would appreciate some opinions on first things to look at for my circumstances...

Details:

- 2l CU petrol 1980
- After driving for 30 mins
- Pull out of petrol garage and an intermittent squeak begins (sounded like the rear)
- Squeak matches engine speed, quite loud but eventually fades
- Then after a further 15 mins the brakes go quite soft and with a longer travel
- This, when braking, creates a horrible screech and brakes are still soft (again sounded like rear brakes)
- Pull over and do some emergency brake tests etc, all works but with the same symptoms
- Heading home and then brakes return to normal, good high bite and no screech or squeaks.

Here's a few things to note:

- This is the first drive after some major restoration work had been carried out
- As part of the resto they put an MOT on the van
- Handbrake had little affect (would be an MOT fail) so some brake maintenance was carried out (handbrake is now great)
- I know that they have bled the brakes as reservoir had been accessed, plus the brakes needed bleeding, they were much spongier before the work
- Don't know if they replaced all the fluid or just topped up, will ask them exactly what they had to do tomorrow.

So from what I've read it seems most likely that an element of the braking system is sticking (caliper) and causing boiling/vapour lock/brake fail... would you be inclined to agree? I changed the master brake cylinder a few years ago, no leaks at all now.

I'm temped to suggest all new fluid (can a mix of dot 3 and dot 4 cause issues?) and then check the moving parts, calipers and pins for issues - again any advice would be appreciated.

Sounds like the shoes have been adjusted up too much (not enough clearance)
Change the brake fluid every two years...yes DOT 3 & DOT 4 can be mixed (use DOT 4 obviously) and put through a full litre of fluid ..(bleeding from the furthest away from the master cylinder first)
I wonder if he adjusted the brakes correctly by slackening off the hand brake cable first before touching the adjusting bar? and with the unknown I would definitely advise the removal of the drums, a good check over, copperslip the contact points on the backplates, clean up the shoes and drum contact surfaces etc...
You know where you are then! that all is well! and things like the retaining springs are intact and not rolling around in the drums.

Start from a 'base point' and proceed from there.....obviously, if you have paid for this work it should be under guarantee so return the van with your concerns.

Martin

Thanks Martin, much appreciated. Will report back with findings!

Dave