HELP NO BRAKES!!

[cjs]

After a short blast this morning got home with a very hot and smoking nearside front brake. On investigation the caliper was sticking so I striped it down to give a clean up. To make everthing easy I removed the brake pipe from the caliper. Now I've put everthing back and I'm trying to bleed the caliper but am getting no fluid as the pedal is pushed. Also the offside front brake is now not working, have I done something stupid? I thought a few pushes on the pedal would be enough to bleed one caliper. Could the Master cylinder have gone when it was pumped hard?

Chris - 92 Griff

[cjs]

Good news, with the help of a Gunston Ezibleed (excellent bit of kit!!!)I have managed to bleed the front caliper that I was having problems with. Unfortunatly the caliper is still binding even after a good clean up and lube with copper grease so I think its knackered!Its origonal and done 80K miles.

So time to replace the front calipers but with what? The standard ones are from a Ford Sierra but which one? XR4i? Estate?

Also if I'm replacing the calipers do I replace the discs with something a bit bigger for better braking? It should not cost much more. My current discs according to the Hand Book on my 92 4l Griff are:

Front 10.6" (269mm)
Rear 9.9" (251mm)

I will measure these when I can as I don't trust the hand book!

Now according to the Bible 10.6" is bigger than those fitted to a Griff 500 (10.2" 260mm) so is it worth me changing discs.

I have not got round to the rear brakes however the calipers do look newer then the fronts so should be ok, can i replace the discs (9.6") for the bigger 500 discs (10.7") and use the same calipers? (do I need spacers ?)is it worth it? how will it effect the braking bias?

thanks in advance

Chris - 92 griff 4l

[GreenV8S]

Is it the pads jamming in the carrier, or the slide jamming, or the piston jamming?

[cjs]

Peter

I think its the piston jamming, I pushed it in and out a few times when I took the caliper off, I also cleaned up the slide and lubed with some copper grease. The pads are worn due to the constant friction however they do seem to be moving ok. I've now got my Griff booked in at Topcats next week for a full service and health check and Warren will look at the brakes then and give me some ideas.

I'd just like to drive it untill then!

Chris.

[GreenV8S]

Good, it sounds like you're mobile again although still stuck with the dragging brake problem. Keep an eye on the temperatures and don't drive it if the brakes are building up a lot of heat.

[shpub]

A 4 litre car will have 240 mm brakes (the bible quotes the several sizes that TVR claimed to have fitted)but you have 240mm ones. Bigger discs will not fit on the front unless you get an adapter kit. Tower View amongst others do them.

The rear brakes need new hub carrier/uprights as they are not the same.