Brakes on an 8v R19 cab..

[opa]

The brakes on my cab are pretty useless, I have changed everything wheel end and I have noticed now that when I start the car the brake pedal don't "suck" down as it should which leads me to belive that the servo is playing up and needs changing.

Is this an easy job as it looks like a bit of a pig, will the engine need to be droped or is it possible to do it without having to go that far..?
Also does anyone here have a good one laying around or should I go for a new one..?

Thanks

[Chris H]

you checked the vacuum pipe?

New servo isn't that dear tbh.

tbh to save hassle I'd whip the lump out myself and do it.

What brakes are on it? 238mm vented or solids?

[opa]

Originally Posted by Chris H

you checked the vacuum pipe?

New servo isn't that dear tbh.

tbh to save hassle I'd whip the lump out myself and do it.

What brakes are on it? 238mm vented or solids?

I'm not sure, but the front discs are not vented or groved so I guess they are solids..
Should the vacuum pipe be clearly visable or is it tucked away somewhere..?

[james]

i have a good pair of working 16v calipers and carriers for sale would make good upgrade lol

[opa]

Would this upgrade make much of a difference..?

[Chris H]

238mm solids? Fecking hell never knew they done them! Are they bendix or girling? If they are bendix then frankly I'm surprised your not dead already.

Going to 16V vented 259's and girlings will make a MASSIVE difference.

[paul331]

hi i have a 8v caddy the brakes are good but not half as good as my 16v caddy but the front discs on mine are vented and every one ive seen are soyours must be a one off?

[opa]

Or I'm an idiot and don't know what I'm talking about
All I know is these brakes will kill me if I dont get them fixed soon. I don't really know anything about car repairs and I know this Cab needs a few bits here and there but I liked it and wanted to save it from being bought by a kid then run into the ground for the summer...

The brakes are really rubbish, something broken rubbish and I have had new shoes and cylinders on the rear, the front pads have loads of meat on them and the pedal is rock hard, like towing a car that won't start.
I think I'll buy the all the bits to upgrade the brakes and a new servo then pay someone to fit it all, are these any good for what I want..?

NEW DISCS <---Linky

What else would I need as well as those to upgrade the front brakes (I know I will need the calipers and pads).?

[Gentle Ben]

You will need the caliper carriers/brackets from a 16v.

[opa]

So buying James Calipers and carriers along with those discs would be a worth while purchase... Cool.

Anything else needed..?

[james]

just need the calipers, carriers, discs, pads and some brake fluid

[bidderman1969]

i reckon someones bought the wrong set of discs!

get a piccy up of them

[mojomoh]

Chris H alluded to it - but specifically OPA has your car got Bendix ABS? If so that could be the reason for the poor brakes. Removing the ABS as well as improving the brake performance may save your life as well!

[srmunden]

I think we all started off on the wrong foot here - incomplete description of both the problems with braking and the car it's fitted too; then everyone jumping in with suggestions on upgrades, which won't necessarily solve the problem (Opa says he has changed 'everything' at the wheel end without any success).

Back to basics then - Opa, what model and year cab is it (pref with which braking system), what exactly is wrong with the braking system and what have you tried and / or replaced to fix it?

[Chris H]

he already said its got solid discs so hes either got girling or bendix calipers. If hes got bendix then thats his problem. I never even mentioned anything about ABS etc. He won;t have ABS if hes got solids anyway.

[opa]

It's an 8v '94 on an L plate cabriolet with discs on the front and shoes on the back.
I have replaced the shoes and cylinders on the rear as well as adjusted them.
I'm 99% sure this car has no ABS.
I have checked the Pads on the front and they have plenty of life left in them. It's poring with rain here today, I'll whip the wheels off and get some pics on line for you tommorow but the discs look like they would be the factory fitted ones, not very big and without surface groves/drill holes.

The problem is the brake pedal feels solid, not unlike it would when you tow a car that won't start and the servo isn't working, although it is a bit better than that, stoping quickly is impossible although it does come to halt and the handbrake works ok.
My limited knowledge of cars makes me think the sevo isn't working as it should although I can't be sure.

[srmunden]

Opa, I am no expert, but if there is no travel in the pedal, then there is probably no vacuum to the servo - see ChrisH's first comment, and your original comment on the pedal 'giving' on engine start, which I didn't get until I read the Haynes manual (told you I was no expert).

This is more likely to be a split hose, rather than the servo itself although, depending on access, you may be better following Chris' other advice, dropping the engine and replacing servo and hoses all together.

Certainly with this kind of problem, changing the calipers, discs, etc. will definitely not help. You need to get the existing braking system working properly before deciding whether better components are required - this will mainly depend on your driving style and speed habits. My brakes are ok, but I'm not a fast driver...

[mojomoh]

Opa at the risk of stating the obvious vented discs do not have any surface holes or grooves. If they are vented there will be slots on the edge of the disc. If there are slots they are vented.