by awiedie » Mon Sep 13, 2021 1:23 pm
Since Glyn's last comment on Jul 30, I have not had an opportunity to continue with the diagnosis of my very hard brake pedal or the some times locked-up brakes. Yesterday I decided to move the car out of the garage and see what happened. First I disconnected the electrical feed to the anti-creep switch at the carbs so that that system would not be operative. I started the car and let it idle a bit until the choke kicked off and then backed it out into the driveway where I let it idle for ten minutes or so, then shut it off. No problem with locked brakes at that point.
An hour or so later I decided to put it back in the garage, but before doing so I wanted to try the test to see if the servo was working as it should. That being, with the car off, pump the brake pedal several times and then hold it down and start the car. If the pedal sinks when the car starts, then the servo should be OK. The pedal didn't move. Not good. When I tried to move the car forward in drive, it would not budge, the brakes were locked. I checked the brake lights and they were on. I then went in and got my wooden handle hammer, opened the bonnet, and gave a few hard whacks with the butt end of the hammer on the top flange of the air valve housing on the side of the servo. The brakes released and the car rocked back. I immediately drove it into the garage and turned it off. The brake lights had not come on.
Things seem to be pointing to the servo but I don't want to go there until it is definitely proved to be the culprit. Maybe a faulty check valve at the vacuum tank, a collapsed line, or some other thing. I have studied the servo system and still don't completely understand how it works. Of course, it could also be something amiss in the master cylinder as Rob mentioned, particularly with the very hard brake pedal that has only 1/2" free play if that. Any more thoughts?
Since Glyn's last comment on Jul 30, I have not had an opportunity to continue with the diagnosis of my very hard brake pedal or the some times locked-up brakes. Yesterday I decided to move the car out of the garage and see what happened. First I disconnected the electrical feed to the anti-creep switch at the carbs so that that system would not be operative. I started the car and let it idle a bit until the choke kicked off and then backed it out into the driveway where I let it idle for ten minutes or so, then shut it off. No problem with locked brakes at that point.
An hour or so later I decided to put it back in the garage, but before doing so I wanted to try the test to see if the servo was working as it should. That being, with the car off, pump the brake pedal several times and then hold it down and start the car. If the pedal sinks when the car starts, then the servo should be OK. The pedal didn't move. Not good. When I tried to move the car forward in drive, it would not budge, the brakes were locked. I checked the brake lights and they were on. I then went in and got my wooden handle hammer, opened the bonnet, and gave a few hard whacks with the butt end of the hammer on the top flange of the air valve housing on the side of the servo. The brakes released and the car rocked back. I immediately drove it into the garage and turned it off. The brake lights had not come on.
Things seem to be pointing to the servo but I don't want to go there until it is definitely proved to be the culprit. Maybe a faulty check valve at the vacuum tank, a collapsed line, or some other thing. I have studied the servo system and still don't completely understand how it works. Of course, it could also be something amiss in the master cylinder as Rob mentioned, particularly with the very hard brake pedal that has only 1/2" free play if that. Any more thoughts?