Toledo Brakes HELP!!!!

[swoakes]

The saga of my Toledo brakes continues. Story so far; rear brakes
adjusted, checked for leaks (non found) and system bled. Since then
brakes have got worse over the last week. The pedal now goes to the
floor with very little action at the the brakes. I tried to bleed the
system again today; some air was in the system but very difficult to
get any fluid moving out of the bleed nipples. The car has front
discs, rear shoes with a directly connected servo. There are still no
leaks evident and feel that it must be a master cylinder fault or a
servo fault. The brake pedal operates the servo piston rod which acts
as the master cylinder pushrod. How do I test which is at fault? Can I
remove the master cylinder and check for the operation of the servo
piston rod by depressing the brake pedal and can I/ should I do this
with the car running? Apologies if these are silly questions but not
messed with brake hydraulics before. Thanks Steve

[Nick Jones]

If you can't 'pump up' the pedal, there are no leaks evident and the fluid level is not falling, it's almost certainly a master cylinder fault (probably the little seal on the end of the spring that seals the fluid inlet hole as this does not cause an external leak).

If the fluid level is falling but no obvious leaks, the master cylinder may be leaking into the servo itself - which will be easy to see when you remove the master cylinder.

Try a master cylinder seal kit first - good chance of success.

If the brakes do pump up to a degree, it could be a failed flexihose - to check this, clamp off each hose in turn (proper hose clamp best but can use molegrips with cardboard to protect the hose) at the inner end and see if it makes a difference.

Good luck!

Nick

[swoakes]

Thanks Nick, I've just ordered a service kit for the MC along with a few other bits from Rimmer Brothers. Thanks Steve

[Alex]

Years ago I had a MK3 cortina and that had a master cylinder fail twice.
The car was low milage and had been sat for a number of years.
I fitted a seal kit...or rather had one fitted,but 2 years later it went again.
If I braked hard(pushed the pedal hard into the floor)then it would stop,after investigation it was found that the lack of use had left a ridge in the cylinder where the seal had been for so many years of no use.
I had no choice but get another kit fitted as the new cylinders at that time were unobtainable,I'm sure it would be different now though.
Funnily enough though in the 5 yrs I had it every mot the examiner would compliment how good the brakes were.