If it's not one thing . . . .

[quixote]

It's another!

Noticed the brake pedal went really hard a couple of days ago, but didn't manage to get around to investigating.

Yesterday I got a really bad juddering on the dual carriageway and had to pull over. I thought I had a flat, but on inspection found nothing. Pulled away gently and everything seemed ok. Had a half hour or so drive this morning and the pedal was rock hard again. Even thinking about pressing it brought the brakes on

Then the juddering again. No vibration through the steering wheel, so it has to be from the rear. Hard braking cured it for a few moments, then it was back. Nursed the truck back home and noticed the smell of hot brakes!

Any ideas as to what could be causing this? I replaced the rear shoes a few months back, but all's been well up until the last couple of days

 

[davenclaire]

seized

Seized front brake caliper slide pins most likely but recheck those rears incase the self adjuster has wound its self out

 

[quixote]

That's a good idea! It is be the rear brakes that are overheating, right enough Any idea what causes the hard brake pedal though? I checked the pedal drops on engine start, so the servo seems to be ok. No ABS warning lights are on either

 

[jims-terrano]

Brake cables once seized on mine and made the rear brakes over heat.

 

[quixote]

I'll check that tomorrow Jim. Cheers mate :thumb2

 

[solarman216]

replaced rear brakes a short while while ago! I would be pulling the drums off for a check, this is a 3 so are very different to earlier versions, Rick

 

[Terrano Steve]

:nenau May be friction material has come away from new shoes. I would be taking the drums off for a look anyway.

 

[quixote]

Caliper slide pins seized, so I freed those off. Changed the pads for new and now I have no brakes at all

I'm about sick and tired of Terrano ownership :doh

 

[quixote]

Can't even get a pedal now. Looks as though the master cylinder is screwed :nenau

 

[quixote]

Looks like it's the MC right enough

Had a mate depress the pedal while I undid the bleed nipples. No fluid pressure whatsoever, just a tiny drip from both sides. Wonder if I buggered the seals while returning the pistons into the caliper? Surely not though, as that's exactly what I did when I replaced the pads last time

 

[jims-terrano]

You wouldn't have thought that it could blow the seals on the MC unless they were on their way out and causing your problem all along. Mind you even if the MC was the problem you've found and cured a fault with the front brakes which is no bad thing.

 

[quixote]

That's very true mate. Truth be told, I'm thinking the hard pedal may have been caused by the MC being on its way out in the first place. It felt a bit soft last week as well, but I just put it down to paranoia after the hassles I had with the heating. I've ordered a replacement MC/Servo unit together (used, but guaranteed) and a couple of front flexi pipes too, so I'll hopefully have it back on the road this week

 

[jims-terrano]

Good to hear you are nearly sorted. At least you don't have that ridiculous load sensing valve on your year of truck.

 

[quixote]

At least you don't have that ridiculous load sensing valve on your year of truck

That was my first thought, to be honest. I only realised my truck didn't have one when I started looking for it

 

[quixote]

Sorted! Ordered a secondhand MC from the Bay of E and fitted it this afternoon. The old one looked in great shape, and I got fluid from both ports when I pushed the piston in. Must've been leaking under pressure though, as I almost immediately got flow from the calipers when I bled the system. Can't tell you how relieved I am to have the truck driveable again. I live out in the sticks and you can only rely on others for so long!

Thanks to everyone for your input :thumb2

Edit: Oh yes, and the Gunsen Eezibleed won't work on my truck as the MC reservoir cap is a bayonet type and won't seal

 

[Davey Boy]

Yep, I nearly bought a Gunson, and just thought I would check the types of adaptors in the box as I was digging out my cash. None of them would have fitted!
Back to good old tube and suck.
Glad you've got your brakes sorted.:thumb2

 

[Terrano Steve]

I have not tried this on a Terrano but I recently bled brakes on a tractor by forcing fluid back through bleed nipple with a large syringe and short length of tube.
Works a treat if you are on your own.

 

[quixote]

Cheers fellas. I ordered new flexis and bleed nipples too . . . .not fitted yet as I wanted the truck back on the road. I'll fit them in the New Year :thumb2

As it is, I'm just relieved to have the truck back on the road

 

[quixote]

I recently bled brakes on a tractor by forcing fluid back through bleed nipple with a large syringe and short length of tube

That's a great tip mate, thanks :thumb2