Steve writes:
"Thanks again for everyone who helped with my leaking brake fluid
problem. It was the master cylinder. The calipers and master cylinder
have now been rebuilt and new rotors installed. The master cyl. appears
to be from an early series Alpine, at least that's the rebuild kit that
worked. The leaking has stopped, but I'm not happy with the results.
The pedal seems to grab much closer to the floor than it used to and the
car just doesn't seem to stop as well. I asked the shop if anything
could be done. They re-bled the system and adjusted the rear brakes,
but it's not much better. I never used a brake booster and was happy
with the brakes before. Not now. Any ideas?"
Your description sounds very much like one of two things. First, I suspect
that the rear shoes are not adjusted right yet. It could be that the shop
did not do it right. I would suggest trying it yourself with the proper
instructions. You may even try pulling the emergency brake up a bit until
the brakes bind a little and then see how your pedal feels. If it is
firmer and higher, then the adjustment of the rear brakes is probably your
problem. Second, are you 100% sure that the same master was used? You
have a Series V, which should have the larger brake master, yet you say you
now have an early master which is smaller. If for some reason they were
accidentally switched, you would find a softer pedal with a longer reach.
"Coincidently, I came across an almost new brake booster. The girling
replacement model. I think I've found a bracket as well. Can anyone
provide installation tips. Right now, the line from the master cyl.
hooks up to a junction in the vicinity of where the booster should be.
The connector has lines running to each front wheel and to the back as
well as the brake light connections. Is the booster tied into this
junction somehow? Does it replace it? Or do I need some other sort of
connector?"
The proper set up for the booster is that the line from the master cylinder
goes over to the top of the booster - not the block you mention. Then a
short line goes from the booster to the place where your master now goes.
Be sure to get the shorter line from Sunbeam Specialties, or other
Sunbeam/English supplier that has "double" flared brake lines.
Jay
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Tue Sep 05 2000 - 10:04:04 CDT