paulf
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| posted on 8/8/12 at 05:19 PM |
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Front brake balance
I am just getting my car ready for an MOT and have had a problem with the front brake balance under heavy braking recently.
I find that when I brake hard the drivers side front locks first and if I brake moderately hard the car pulls to the drivers side for a fraction of a
second before straightening or pulling back to the left.If i just brake normally it appears to be perfectly ok and stops in a straight line.
Last year at the MOT it was a little down on brake efficiency on the passenger side but good enough to get a pass.
I found that both front brakes seem to be working fine when I jack up the car and spin the wheels by hand it just needs a very light touch on the
brake pedal by hand to stop either one and there is no sign of either calliper dragging, so dont think it is a brake calliper problem.
Could it be just down to corner weights being out ? or possibly a brake pad problem ?
Paul
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britishtrident
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| posted on 8/8/12 at 05:38 PM |
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Has the pedal a "springy" feel if so it points to a seized calliper piston or pad seized in the calliper slots, both were very common
problems with Cortina M16 and P16 callipers.
Remove each the pad out make sure the pads are moving freely in the calliper and check each each piston individually by removing one pad at a
time and giving the pedal a gentle push to half stroke.
Important Note: Ddo not use WD40 or similar anywhere near brake parts, WD40 is largely Kerosene/Gas Oil type hydrocarbons if you use thit on brake
parts the calliper seal rubber will eventually turn brick hard and cause a sticking calliper.
[Edited on 8/8/12 by britishtrident]
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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paulf
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| posted on 8/8/12 at 08:21 PM |
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Have just removed the pads from the caliper and found to be free, also checked both pistons were free by pushing them back by hand and neither was
stiff.
I raised the opposite rear spring to put some more weight on the drivers side front and now find it occasionally locks both fronts but more usually
the drivers side first and veers to the right before straightening up all I can think of now is to change the pads.
Paul
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