I have a new problem on my Dolomite 1850 HL 1980 model. Having fitted a recon tandem system brake master cylinder, and new rear wheel cylinders, only 3000 miles ago. The brakes are free when cold, but after driving a few miles, engine is normal temperature, but brakes now binding. Rear drums very hot to touch. Handbrake cables not tight or pulling.
Leave to cool for an hour or so , and brakes free again. Any ideas please
Just wanted to thank all those members who have answered my plea for help regarding this brake problem. It escalated slightly, in that the front nearside brake was also binding and the caliper hot after about 5 miles.
Luckily I have help from a friendly garage. The man there, test drove it and gave it a full check. I collected the car today, and he has replaced the front nearside flexible hose. It is O.K. again now, and I cannot understand why the front hose should affect rear brakes binding on a tandem system. It seems to have done the trick.
Any comments appreciated.
Last edited by Phil Huskinson on Wed May 06, 2015 4:49 pm, edited 2 times in total.
The normal cause of this problem is the inside of the rear brake hose has collapsed and turned into a one way valve. It will allow hydraulic fluid to flow to the brake cylinders when the brakes are applied but it will not allow it to flow back to the master cylinder when the brakes are released because there is not so much pressure driving the hydraulic fluid back. Quite often it is just the nearside that sticks as this one as it is the furthest point. The easy way to prove the point is to just crack open the bleed nipple when the brakes are binding as this will release the pressure and you should be able to turn the brake drums / wheels with ease.
I'm with Richard and Jonners too on this, the most likely suspect is the rear flexi hose, especially if it's not been replaced recently (you say you've changed the master)
However I had a similar problem with the Carledo after Castle Coombe. The brakes worked perfectly all day on track but while driving home on the motorway I felt a bit of drag which seemed to ease if I hooked my foot under the pedal and lifted it a mm or two. The next morning, on the very short (1/2 mile) drive to work, the drag was much worse and no amount of pedal lifting helped. When I got there I found the problem confined to the front wheels (the backs both moved freely but the fronts were both immovably tight)
At this point I was also ready to blame the (club rebuilt and less than a year old) master cylinder, or possibly the servo, but just for the crack I opened the o/s/f bleed screw for a second. The pressure dissipated instantly on both front wheels, brake operation returned to normal and the problem has not so far returned, despite a longish (45 mile) drive to Long Marston Dragstrip, a days racing and the same trip home the following Sunday! So all I can do is scratch my poor aching head! I should also say that the braking system is entirely new or recently replaced with club dual circuit master, all new copper pipe, all Goodridge hoses, Trackerjack conversion with new pads and calipers, new rear wheel cylinders and shoes.
Being the empirical engineer that I am, though, I refuse to worry about it, "if it ain't broke.........."
Steve
'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!
Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
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Jon Tilson wrote:Then with all due respect how do you know it was the master?
I agree with Richard...
Hoses...
Jonners
It was a while ago now but I ended up rebuilding it and it has been fine for years. Single line master. It was both fronts that were almost locking up on mine. Weird. I would agree that it sounds flexi related although mine was on 2 wheels.
Back when I lived in Devon in early 2000's we used a trailer attached to our Sprint to tow our Pug 1.9 GTI to track days. I drove the few miles from Totnes to almost Newton Abbot when I saw flames shooting out from our trailer
What had happened was the trailer brakes were hydraulic and the master had got sticky due to non use this caused the brake fluid to heat up and expand putting on the brakes and causing heat build up on the discs, which were now glowing red hot and melting the hub grease which then ignited in glorious flames
Panic and water put them out and a strip down and rebuild before further use.
P poor maintainance is a sure loser every time
