Very spongy brakes?

[frosty]

Hi all, not been on for a while, was thinking of getting rid of my Maverick but had a change of heart, so took it for a MOT and it failed on front to back brake pipes, have changed them but they are very spongy to the point of not drivable as anyone got any ideas please!!

 

[AlexD333]

Need correctly bleeding and, or, drums setting up. From what I have heard they are auto adjusters but often don't work.

Also air in the system will give you the spongey feeling too.

 

[AlexD333]

Ideally a 2 person job, if you can find the bleed nipples get the correct spanner for the nipple (usually an 8 or 10mm)

Get someone to pump pump pump n hold on the brake pedal. Loosen off the nipple and the pedal will press to the floor, tighten back up nipple, release pedal then repeat until all air is out. There may be several bleed nipples on terrano I have no idea.
Make sure you take the top off the brake master cylinder so the system can breath first, and keep toppin up the fluid, don't let it get lower than the master cylinder or it will suck a load of air in...

 

[frosty]

Thanks for the response have done the bleeding part, ended up going through a litre of brake fluid, but just can't seem to stop the spongy pedal, will try adjusting the rear brakes to see what that does. Above the rear axle there is what I think is a brake compensator with a bleed nipple on the top but is all rusted up, could that be the problem.

 

[solarman216]

I have lots of Terrano's and never bled any of them via the bleed nipples, just too risky, always done it from the disk pistons or the rear cylinders, front just remove the calliper pump the brake a few times to extend the pistons then push the pistons right home again all air will be expelled to the master cylinder, same with the rear but you do not need to press the pedal just remove the shoes and let the pistons come out to the limit of the boots, then push them back all the way, never had any problems doing it this way, and its is a one man job, Rick

 

[frosty]

That sounds interesting Rick, never done it like that before should you still start at the furthest caliper away from the master cylinder?

 

[AlexD333]

Don't forget to put something inbetween the 2 pistons :lol

I'd take ricks advise all day long :thumb2

 

[solarman216]

That sounds interesting Rick, never done it like that before should you still start at the furthest caliper away from the master cylinder?

does not matter the main point is the master cyl is high and air rises that is why this method is so easy, you are pushing the air in the direction it wants to go, Rick

 

[frosty]

Thanks for the advice, that's Sunday's job then will let you know, fingers crossed!!

 

[Banshee]

Thanks for the advice, that's Sunday's job then will let you know, fingers crossed!!

Keep us posted matey and let us know how you get on

Nice to know another Maverick has been saved :thumb2

I have one also, get some pics up if you can buddy

 

[makeitfit]

Rick, that's all cool BUT, check out the load sensing valve if you still have one ?
That has a bleed valve too, miss that and you'll still have a pocket of air way above the rear brake cylinders
Simple one man bleed system = pipe and tyre valve= simples

 

[solarman216]

Rick, that's all cool BUT, check out the load sensing valve if you still have one ?
That has a bleed valve too, miss that and you'll still have a pocket of air way above the rear brake cylinders
Simple one man bleed system = pipe and tyre valve= simples

yep load sensing valve included, still works, air goes up hill, Rick

 

[jims-terrano]

Like the idea Rick but having not seen the Terrano stripped down to the cylinders. My only experience of the cylinders is other vehicles, how come the pistons don't simply pop out of the cylinders?

 

[TONUP]

Like the idea Rick but having not seen the Terrano stripped down to the cylinders. My only experience of the cylinders is other vehicles, how come the pistons don't simply pop out of the cylinders?

This is an interesting way of bleeding brakes, which I have never heard of. I assume that Rick doesn't advocate bleeding them through the bleed nipples because of the risk of snapping them off? This has happened to me when doing our old (1999) 318is brakes.

I am guessing that if you keep pumping the pedal the pistons will pop out of the calipers eventually and there are two pistons per caliper. I often put the two pads in the 'jaws' of the caliper to stop this from happening, but it would be useful if someone had the length of the pistons somewhere?

Regards

Alan

 

[R1cho]

This is an interesting way of bleeding brakes, which I have never heard of. I assume that Rick doesn't advocate bleeding them through the bleed nipples because of the risk of snapping them off? This has happened to me when doing our old (1999) 318is brakes.

I am guessing that if you keep pumping the pedal the pistons will pop out of the calipers eventually and there are two pistons per caliper. I often put the two pads in the 'jaws' of the caliper to stop this from happening, but it would be useful if someone had the length of the pistons somewhere?

Regards

Alan

iirc the pistons go pretty much to the bottom of the caliper

 

[TONUP]

iirc the pistons go pretty much to the bottom of the caliper

That's handy to know. Thanks

Regards

Alan

 

[Banshee]

I didn't realize the load sensing valve had a bleed nipple?

Mine is saturated in Waxoyl :doh

My truck is pulling to the right hard under braking at the moment and I've never bled the rear brakes and load sensing valve as I presumed I didn't have to because I hadn't touched them.

I'm adamant and so is James that I have a seized piston on my passengers side so he's going to give me a passengers side caliper to replace mine to test if it is the pistons

I know for a fact that it's not the slider pins as I've had both sets of these out, sanded, copper greased and replaced :thumb2

If I am removing both front callipers should I be bleeding all round including load sensing valve?

 

[R1cho]

I didn't realize the load sensing valve had a bleed nipple?

Mine is saturated in Waxoyl :doh

My truck is pulling to the right hard under braking at the moment and I've never bled the rear brakes and load sensing valve as I presumed I didn't have to because I hadn't touched them.

I'm adamant and so is James that I have a seized piston on my passengers side so he's going to give me a passengers side caliper to replace mine to test if it is the pistons

I know for a fact that it's not the slider pins as I've had both sets of these out, sanded, copper greased and replaced :thumb2

If I am removing both front callipers should I be bleeding all round including load sensing valve?

just clamp the break hose with some locking pliers

 

[Banshee]

just clamp the break hose with some locking pliers

That's what I did when I removed them anyways

 

[jims-terrano]

iirc the pistons go pretty much to the bottom of the caliper

And the rear cylinders?