Stiff brake pedal - Intermittent

Started by AndyRobinson, October 20, 2014, 06:20:07 PM

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AndyRobinson

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'65 Blue Sidewinder
Location: Leighton Buzzard
Notice this happening over the weekend, Drum brakes all round ('65 wide 5's)

The brake pedal is (I guess about 1 in 5 times approx.) really heavy i.e. hardly moves when trying to depress it. Then a few moments later is fine. I should stress the brakes are still working fine on those occasions when its stiff - well at least seems to stop just as well and doesn't pull to either side when its normal or heavy. So I didn't initially think its a case of bleeding them (but not ruling it out depending on the advice from you guys) may be a faulty wheel cylinder on one side (on the rears for example?) but the fronts can still compensate for it?

So driving around town for example, a couple of times its stiff and then 2 mins later its fine for several occasions and then a bit later on its stiff again. When its normal pedal is spot on, not to the floor at all, just usual pressure. I did adjust the shoes all round a few weeks ago, but this issue seems to be much more recent.

Any thoughts?
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snoopy

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Kango ss/ Jas lwb
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You have insufficient free play on the operating rod, may be build up of debris inside the boot stopping the piston coming back fully yoopen the return port into the resevoir.

Dave DND

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^^ WHS

When I first built mine, I had the same problem and put it into a local VW guy as it baffled me what I had done wrong in the build.

He smiled at me, said "classic fault" hid himself under the steering column for two minutes and said "fixed"

Hopefully yours is as easy a fix as mine was   ;)
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dave@dndservices.co.uk


Merscury

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Quote from: snoopy on October 20, 2014, 06:23:15 PM
You have insufficient free play on the operating rod, may be build up of debris inside the boot stopping the piston coming back fully yoopen the return port into the resevoir.

Sounds right to me, could also be a simple case of something having got between the brake pedal and the pedal stop like loose carpet or floor mat.  The pedal stop is just a small metal plate that bolts to the floor, just one bolt which if slackened allows you to move the plate to set the correct amount of free play.
Have fun. Be lucky

Hunter

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My thoughts are the same as those aired above really.

Get a good torch and have a look down there around the pedal itself.
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Now running SWB CTR

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AndyRobinson

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'65 Blue Sidewinder
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Cheers guys... will have a look and give it a good clean out down there.  ;-)up
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1965 Blue metal flake Sidewinder
Proudly BOUGHT not BUILT .... but rebuilt it anyway!!!

Melly B.

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GP Mk1 swb
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Does the brake pedal go softish immediately after using the clutch pedal, in which case problem could be inside pedal assembly shafts.
Buggy anorak. Owned my red GP Mk1 swb for 32 years (now sold)

AndyRobinson

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'65 Blue Sidewinder
Location: Leighton Buzzard
Quote from: Melly B. on October 21, 2014, 08:28:23 AM
Does the brake pedal go softish immediately after using the clutch pedal, in which case problem could be inside pedal assembly shafts.

Hadn't noticed to be honest Mel, its possible I guess, but will check all that anyway too :)
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1965 Blue metal flake Sidewinder
Proudly BOUGHT not BUILT .... but rebuilt it anyway!!!

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