Brakes not working??

[Rory126bis]

Hi all. My 126 is all but done apart from a respray  ! Now though it seems I cannot get any brakes to work on it. All shoes have been replaced back and front with a new master cylinder but I cant get a pedal when trying to brake? I have bled the system 2 times now and cant think of what the problem is. I have been going back and forward pumping the pedal until it grabs trying to adjust the shoes but still I have no brakes  . Any help would be much appreciated   

[Gadge]

Their a devil to bleed if you've replaced the whole system. I done it before when I replaced the master cylinder and the pipes and found I could not get rid of the spongy pedal.

Firstly is the little plunger on the back of the pedal located properly in the back of the master cylinder. Sorry if that seems a daft question but let's get the obvious stuff out the way. Then bleed each wheel starting with the fronts first like you already have but get someone to tap the master cylinder with a large spanner or tack hammer at the same time. Sometimes air traps inside it and need encouragement to move (this is the problem I had). If alls well there and your sure all the air is out (remembering not to let the level go down in the resovior) then you need to look at the adjusters on the shoes - do they move freely when lever gently with a screw driver - perhaps a little bit of copper grease if they don't. If they still don't work After that then I'm stumped??

[gammakeith]

If you have a completely dry system its often better to bleed by suction through the bleed nipple rather than using the classic "pump" technique.  If you cannot get hold of any vacuum equipment then you could buy yourself a 50ml medical syringe off ebay and pull as 2-3 syringe fulls of air/fluid through each bleed nipple in turn.   I did mine that way when I replaced all the hydraulics/brake pipes last year and I had no problems getting a firm pedal.

Keith

[Rory126bis]

Thanks for the help! I'm pretty sure you've nailed it with the adjusters gadge! Also the bushe for the pedal needs replacing so hoepfuy lu a set of new back plated and a nice set of disks for the front will be all my brake problems over with! Again thanks for the help much appreciated 

[Pete126]

Sticking adjusters won't stop you getting a pedal, the automatic adjusters work on friction so personally i would not use any type of grease on them, to adjust the brake shoes you put the car in 1st drive forward and stamp on the brakes, do the same in reverse do that a couple of times, that adjusts and centralizes the shoes, If you have no pedal what so ever try bleeding the 2 output pipes on the master cylinder by loosening the nuts, once you have fluid coming out of there bleed as normal starting with the nearest wheel to the master cylinder.

[Rory126bis]

Yeah I've tried going backwards and forwards to adjust the shoes but still nothing. I do have a very faint pedal but the brakes just won't do anything once past 10mph. I'm going to go through bleeding each wheel and the master step by step again. Hopefully figure out what's wrong tomorrow and let you all know. As soon as these brakes work it'll get through the MOT too so nearly there with this 126 

[ChrisRLewis]

Perhaps your new master cylinder requires "bench bleeding", check it out on google