Another MOT Pass

[Jakko]

Having been laid up for the winter having a few jobs looked at, it passed another MOT with no drama's. Happy days. Only comment from the tester was about brake pedal travel. He asked whether it was a TVR trait to have quite a lot of travel. The brakes pull up as required, but the pedal is quite soft. It doesn't pump up like it would if there was air in the system, so I always thought it was "normal". He suggested the calipers may be a bit sluggish due to lack of use as it's only done 1500 moles since last year.

Any comments or suggestions from the experts on here would be appreciated.

[alfa7530v6]

Well done chap do you use it much in bad weather

i just had mine through its test and the tester did remark on the braking figures being 200kg front and the same on the rear he thought very unusual seems ok on the road ?

[Jakko]

I took it off the road last September to change a few things over the winter. (EG engine mounts, exhaust manifold gaskets). So it hasn't had any use since then. I will have to try another car to see if there is any difference.

[Stwdv]

A couple of thoughts, was it like it before you laid it up?
You could test the servo, press the brake pedal start the engine and if the pedal goes down it could be faulty
And some brake fluid can absorb moisture, so if it hasn't been changed for a while it maybe worth doing

[Jakko]

Thanks for the thoughts Stu. I will have a play tomorrow.

[Griffinr]

You can get a lot of pedal travel if the rear auto adjusters are not working properly, if you put the handbrake on and press the pedal is the travel reduced significantly?
The master cylinder seals can also soften with age and cause a spongy pedal. Also, does it have the correct master cylinder, there are several different bore sizes that look the same externally.
When was the brake fluid last changed?
All the above can affect pedal travel.

[phillpot]

Change brake fluid and all the flexi-hoses if they are the original (now very old) rubber type.


Then a good extended road test to "clean up" pads, discs shoes and drums.

[Jakko]

Thanks for all the good comments gentle folks. I had a play with it today and tried starting it with my foot hard on the brake pedal. Sure enough the pedal went down a little as the engine started, but so did the family Focus when I tried that. I think perhaps that is "normal" for a servo assisted system. Unless you know better?

I then bled the brakes (again) starting with the front left as recommended in (one of my) manuals. Got some air out I think and the pedal seems firmer now. Have left it standing overnight to see how it feels tomorrow. Could be allowing air in somewhere?

To be continued...

[phillpot]

Jakko said:

I then bled the brakes (again) starting with the front left as recommended in (one of my) manuals.

Was always taught start furthest away, usually NSR then OSR, NSF and finally OSF, don't know if it makes any difference?

When I had a "brake pedal issue" after replacing all my brake pipes I found air trapped in the balance valve, cracked the outlet pipe, bled with a pressure bleeder (those that work from a spare tyre), messy, use lots of rag, but did the trick

[Jakko]

I was taught the same way Mike and that's how I bled it the first time, but when I checked either Haynes or the bible, can't remember which, it said start with front left? Odd, I thought, but did it anyway. I have bled about half a litre of fluid through today using an Eezibleed. I will see how it feels tomorrow.