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brake bleeding problems.

Posted by cpjim

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brake bleeding problems. #1
cpjim jim patterson indiana, USA	Posted: February 12, 2012 02:49PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 54

i replaced the wheel cylinders, front and rear, and brake shoes on my 1500 because of a couple of leaky wheel cylinders. i can't seem to get the pedal to feel right. it goes all the way to the floor and takes 10 or 12 pumps to feel right. when i bleed the brakes it appears all the bubles are gone but it seems like there is not enough flow coming out of the bleeders. i do get more flow from the front. the brakes seemed to work ok before i started and the master cylinder is not leaking. i built a pressure bleeder from mg guru plans and that does get more volume through the lines, but no real help. all the brake shoes are adj all the way in for maximum stroke. does anyone have any ideas? thanks in advance--jim

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Re: brake bleeding problems. #2
revans Richard Evans Hampshire, United Kingdom 1960 MG MGA 1600	Posted: February 12, 2012 03:27PM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 43

Not sure on this Jim, but I thought that the brake adjusters should be all the way out for max stroke.

Richard

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Re: brake bleeding problems. #3
revans Richard Evans Hampshire, United Kingdom 1960 MG MGA 1600	Posted: February 12, 2012 03:43PM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 43

I may have confussed you with my statement.

What I meant to say is that when I bleed my brakes I position all the adjusters all the way out.

Richard

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Re: brake bleeding problems. #4
cschaefer Chuck Schaefer West Chicago,IL, USA	Posted: February 12, 2012 04:07PM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 653

Do you turn the brake adjusters to 1 click off lock to test the pedal? It is a must.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/12/2012 04:08PM by cschaefer.

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Re: brake bleeding problems. #5
cpjim jim patterson indiana, USA	Posted: February 12, 2012 04:56PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 54

the brake adjusters are all the way out. that is, the brake shoes are as far from the drums as possible.

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Re: brake bleeding problems. #6
ron neal South Carolina, USA 1962 MG MGA MkII 1968 MG MGC 1969 MG MGC 1969 MG MGC 1969 MG MGC GT → more	Posted: February 12, 2012 05:15PM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 3,262

Jim

Adjust your brakes as Chuck said then try it again.

Ron

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Re: brake bleeding problems. #7
cpjim jim patterson indiana, USA	Posted: February 12, 2012 05:35PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 54

so i guess you're saying adjust all 4 till they are tight against the drums, back off 1 notch, work the pedal a few times and then bleed again in that posistion or rebleed with the adjusters all the way away from the drums?

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Re: brake bleeding problems. #8
Wray Wray Lemke ., South Carolina, USA 1956 MG MGA 1958 MG Magnette ZB Varitone 1973 MG MGB 1974 MG MGB GT 1974 MG MGB GT	Posted: February 12, 2012 06:27PM Registered: 11 years ago Posts: 10,993

In reply to # 1983273 by cpjim so i guess you're saying adjust all 4 till they are tight against the drums, back off 1 notch, work the pedal a few times and then bleed again in that posistion

You need to do it like that. You'll never get firm pedal any other way.

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Re: brake bleeding problems. #9
cpjim jim patterson indiana, USA	Posted: February 12, 2012 07:03PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 54

thanks for all your help. i'll try it that way this week end and re-post.---jim

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Re: brake bleeding problems. #10
RJBrown Randy Brown Highlands Ranch, Colorado, USA 1958 MG MGA 1500 1958 MG MGA 1500 Coupe 1960 MG MGA 1600 "Later" 1962 MG MGA MkII	Posted: February 12, 2012 07:30PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 802

When adjusting brakes you turn the adjusters as tight as you can then back off one notch. Then you hit the brakes to re center the shoes and adjusters. Then you tighten as tight as possible and back off one click again. Doing this twice guarantees that shoes are centered on the adjusters and in the drum. Often the second time makes no difference but do it to be sure. if you turn the adjuster all the way and the brakes don't hold the drum tight you have a problem. Address this issue first. Brakes should be pruporly adjusted before you bleed them.

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Re: brake bleeding problems. #11
cschaefer Chuck Schaefer West Chicago,IL, USA	Posted: February 13, 2012 07:49AM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 653

If you've already got the bleeding of air taken care of, just adjust the brakes to the operating position and test your brakes. No need to bleed again unless you still feel soft brakes. Pumping the brakes to get a braking action is normal for adjusters set too loose.

Regarding Randy's post. I doesn't hurt to rock the car (or wheel if you've got it up in the air) back and forth after hitting the brakes. This helps a bit to center the shoes too. cdentering the brakes is very importatnt after you've done a complete cylinder/shoe replacement. Not so much for routine adjustments.

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Re: brake bleeding problems. #12
RJBrown Randy Brown Highlands Ranch, Colorado, USA 1958 MG MGA 1500 1958 MG MGA 1500 Coupe 1960 MG MGA 1600 "Later" 1962 MG MGA MkII	Posted: February 13, 2012 08:32AM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 802

In reply to # 1983386 by RJBrown When adjusting brakes you turn the adjusters as tight as you can then back off one notch. Then you hit the brakes to re center the shoes and adjusters. Then you tighten as tight as possible and back off one click again. Doing this twice guarantees that shoes are centered on the adjusters and in the drum. Often the second time makes no difference but do it to be sure. if you turn the adjuster all the way and the brakes don't hold the drum tight you have a problem. Address this issue first. Brakes should be properly adjusted before you bleed them.

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Re: brake bleeding problems. #13
cpjim jim patterson indiana, USA	Posted: February 13, 2012 04:49PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 54

thanks again for the responses, i'll give it a try this weekend and re-post---jim

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Re: brake bleeding problems. #14
cpjim jim patterson indiana, USA	Posted: March 25, 2012 05:28PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 54

it took me a while to get back to the A. after adjusting all 4 brake shoes properly, the pedal pressure came back right away. i bled them 1 more time and everything appears to be ok.thanks for all your help----jim

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Re: brake bleeding problems. #15
jclars John Larsen Lynden, WA, USA 1958 MG MGA 1500 Coupe 1965 MG MGB 1970 MG MGB	Posted: March 25, 2012 10:39PM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 2,293

This post solved the same problem for me with my 1500 coupe. I had brakes, but it always took a second pump to feel solid. This post made me recall that I had somehow skipped past the adjusters after bleeding. I resolved to give it a try before taking it out this season. I took a test run today after adjusting and was pleased that I wont have to look any further for the problem.

Thanks for the post!

John L.

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