Brakes failed !!

[eproht09]

Been loving driving the spitfire (1500) round in the sun with it bouncing along squeaking and shaking ! - was slightly concerned when I got off the motorway and pressed the brakes, the pedal went to the floor ! pumped them and they worked again so got home and had a look.
No leaks or missing fluid, a few bubbles came up when I pressed the brake then they stopped - since then its been fine, wonder what it could be?
Also the fan makes a vibrating noise and seems loose, I fitted an electric one this weekend so wondering if its worth taking the original one off - it does not seem to overheat though anyway, just that the car came with a kenlowe fan (unfitted).
And the heating is stuck on hot (this may have something to do with it not overheating?) the lever wont move !

Any advice on these matters greatly appreciated

[drofgum]

eproht09,
I once had a similar experience with my Mk2 Spitfire; a ,once only, pedal to the floor, brake failure. I never found the cause. Two things do come to mind though: First there is the possibility that the front wheel bearings are loose enough to cause the rotor to push the pads far enough from the correct position to require more than one pump of the pedal to get them against the rotor. Second there is also the possibility that the brakes got hot enough to boil the brake fluid somewhere in the system and applying the brakes moved the bubbles to a cooler spot and condensed them. If I had to choose which I think is more likely I would certainly choose the first. Check for loose front wheel bearings and warped rotors.
                                                                  Best of luck,
                                                                  Paul

[junkuser]

No external leaks and pedal going to the floor suggests fluid bypassing the master cylinder piston or the return valve to the reservoir not sealing.

Overhaul kit for the master cylinder or reconditioned one indicated in this case.

[Rich_s]

Had the same problem with the fan on mine, it also made an awful screech first thing in the morning, then the water pump started leaking so took it all off and fitted the pump for a mark 4 and bought a mark 4 fan on ebay for a few quid, much cheaper then replacing the viscous coupling, found out mine had destroyed its bearings and was locking up anyway.

Also have a kenlowe on mine, as they tend to overheat i decided to have elctric and mechanical fan to keep it cool (er).

As for your heater stuck on hot, mine also had this problem (common theme here :)  ) when i bought it, it had been stood for about 5 years though, found my problem to be the valve had stuck, took it off, cleaned the crud out of it, liberal WD40 and all fine again.

rich

[eproht09]

Should the fan spin all the time ?

[DaveKent]

didn't you say the car sat unused for 6 years? no wonder the brakes failed!! think you should but some overhaul kits!

[eproht09]

Hmm, you may be right there !  

[bob dunn]

first job on any triumph is new brakes , nothing else matters, but you must be able to stop. as i say to my grandson don,t be a silly sausage (because your worth it).!!!!