Brake problem

[Disco_Stu]

Hi all, wondered if you could offer any advice.

A mate of mine has a V8 Disco 1. His troubles started off with a spongy pedal, he rectified it with a new servo, master cylinder, discs and pads all round.

He now tells me that he cant even drive half a mile before his brakes start to bind on and he has to stop or return home for fear of getting stranded. He's been at this for four weeks now and reckons he is now on his 4th Britpart master cylinder.

I asked him all the questions I felt were the obvious ones but he seems to have looked at all the things I would have checked too.

What do you guys think could be causing this? I'll not sully the water by telling you all the things I asked him to check, kind of want a fresh take on it then we can start from the beginnig again and try to get to the bottom of the problem.

Any and all suggestions appreciated,

Stu.

[J.D.]

First off, is the vehicle fitted with ABS?

[Henry Webster]

If he's done discs and pads, I'd be having a good look at the calipers.  Calipers often start sticking after pads and discs are replaced because you are using more corroded/dirty parts of the piston that have been exposed for a long time!

[trecfive]

He's been at this for four weeks now and reckons he is now on his 4th Britpart master cylinder.

There's your answer S**tpart. Everything Ive ever bought from Britpart fails in no time at all. I now avoid it like the plague.

[J.D.]

If he's done discs and pads, I'd be having a good look at the calipers.  Calipers often start sticking after pads and discs are replaced because you are using more corroded/dirty parts of the piston that have been exposed for a long time!

Thats true. Try taking the calipers off and replacing the seals and pistons. I know somewhere does a repair kit for them, or alternatively just replace all the calipers, but that is the expensive option.

Some people reccomend using WD40 or similar, but the only way I would do it is to take the callipers off and then let them dry thoroughly. You could also try wire brushing the exterior of the pistons down.

[wizard]

he rectified it with a new servo

I had the same problem with my disco late last year, i bet he only gets a few miles and the brakes clamp on tighter than a tight thing going tight.....

On the old servo there is a 10mm spacer that sits between the bulkhead and the servo, the new one wouldnt have this fitted.
Hopefully he hasnt thrown the old servo out.
Bung the spacer back in and i bet you a few beers everything will be hunky dory.

wizard

[Henry Webster]

Good one Wizard, that sounds like a good candidate!

[Disco_Stu]

I'll bet it is too. Nice one wizard, I'll now go back to him and sound like an expert :)

[Disco_Stu]

Hmm, he fitted the spacer and its non-ABS.

I agree about the Britpart stuff by the way, I wont use it on my truck. He's gone this morning to get a bearmach master cylinder, I'll go round later and pop his pistons out and see what kind of condition they're in.

Thanks again all.

Stu.

[Disco_Stu]

Thanks for the help lads. It was the master cylinder. Fitted the new one, bled up and problem gone.

Stu.