Mk2 escort brake bias box issues

[Mike Ryan 8878]

I have recently completed my long time build of a mk2 escort van. With the engine I fitted it was necessary to fit a brake bias pedal box. I am having issues with getting any brakes though. I have 9 inch drums with larger cylinders on the rear. The front is a set of 4pot princess copy calipers. On vented discs. Initially I had no pedal. Then after alot of messing I managed to get brakes but only on the rear. After some more research I swapped the cylinder sizes to0.7 for the rear and 0.75 on the front. This did give me braking but the pedal is at the floor. I swapped them around this weekend and it resulted in no brakes again. The rod on the front is about twice the legnth of the rear to try and keep the balance bar perpendicular to the cylinders. I am sure the problem lies with the front as when I clamp off the flexi hoses the pedal is stiff as you would expect. Can anyone suggest what to try as this is doing my nut in now. I have tried bigger and smaller cylinders but can't seem to get enough fluid through to the front calipers. Can anyone give advice on their set ups or experience. Cheers Mike

[stevieturbo]

So you are saying you have no fluid at all to the front brakes ? You can't bleed or do anything ?

Yet you seem to say when you clamp the flexis the pedal is hard, which would suggest there is fluid there and it is bled ?

So which is it ?

When you press the brake pedal, do the pistons move on the front calipers ? Where you able to bleed fluid through ? Is there no force at all to stop the disc rotating ?

[Smint]

A couple of thoughts, probably miles off.

1. schoolboy stuff, the bleed nipples are at the top of the calipers?

2. I recall decades ago having hells own job getting Series Landrover drum all round brakes to bleed, after hours and pints of brake fluid doing no good i G clamped the slave cylinders fully closed (could wire them closed too), the same could be done with the calipers, 5 minutes later had the worlds best LR brake pedal.