[Ryno78]

Hey All,

So some ongoing brake problems with the Sierra, 84 NT Softop.

I have spent a small fortune on the Brakes since getting the car, including:

New Front Calipers
New Front Brake Pads
New Front Brake Rotors
New Front and Rear Brake Lines
Replaced Rear Shoes
Machine Rear Brake Drum
Replace Rear Wheel Cylinders
(+ rear wheel bearings and axle bearings)

After all this, it was still playing up but that was due to fuel in the brake booster.

So I got a replacement booster and master cylinder from India and had this installed and the system bled etc. After this the pedal was awful, nearly going to floor etc and pedal would also pulse. In the meantime, the Unis crapped themselves. Got it into a mechanic, he fixed the Uni's etc and looked at the brakes. Apparently had the incorrect drums on the back, spaced with washers etc, and a dodgy install.

New drums etc have gone on, but now the pedal is even worse. You get no pedal the first time, and it takes two to three pumps to get any kind of brake. Then when you get going again, you lose pedal and it takes another 2-3 goes to get pedal.

Mechanic is suggesting possibly another Master Cylinder but doesn't want to do this if it isn't the issue.

Any thoughts, experience, technical knowledge would be much appreciated.

Cheers,

Ryno

[Gwagensteve]

First cab off the rank, was the master cylinder bench bled?

Next, go around the car with vice grips (or a proper clamp) and clamp each brake line and see which one gives you pedal back. You can also clamp front and rear systems by clamping each of the two rubber lines between the inner guard and the chassis under the master cylinder.

[MrRocky]

Id suggest finding a better mechanic
Sounds like they are either milking you for $$$ or useless

[Boggomobile]

MrRocky wrote:

Id suggest finding a better mechanic
Sounds like they are either milking you for $$$ or useless

Both

[Ryno78]

Followed the advice above, back on the road with brakes and rear uni fixed.

Few other things identified that I need to pay attention to that are not a surprise.

[Brenno]

what was the issue Ryno?

[Ryno78]

Hey mate,

It hadn't previously been bench bled by the brake shop, and the adjusters needed repair.

It's stopping well now!

I'm looking at getting some thinner tyres on it, at the moment is has Desert Dueler 9R15LT's on it. I didn't buy it to do much 4wding, it's mainly for banging around town in a fun car, and also taking out West when we go, but driving on formed paths.

Looking for advice on tyre size and Rims? Would like to go to 195's if possilbe, something lighter.

Cheers,

Ryno

[Gwagensteve]

A brake shop that doesn’t bench bleed a master cylinder? Wow.

I’d recommend stock rims and a 215 75 15 all terrain. You’ll struggle to find a 195 with adequate durability for even dirt road use.

[Ryno78]

Yeah mate, it was a disaster going to that place.

I have no issues now since getting it back from the new mechanic.

Cheers mate, I'll start searching for some stock rims, so some like this is anyone know what they might be?

[Gwagensteve]

They are standard Sj40/sj50 15x5.5 rims, just painted black. (They’re normally white)

Don’t fall into the trap of buying vitara rims. They’re the same size but the offset is incorrect, they narrow the track width