Volvo Community Forum. The Forums of the Volvo Owners Club

Forum Rules Volvo Owners Club About VOC Volvo Gallery Links Volvo History Volvo Press
Go Back   Volvo Owners Club Forum > "Technical Topics" > 200 Series General

Notices

200 Series General Forum for the Volvo 240 and 260 cars

Information
  • VOC Members: There is no login facility using your VOC membership number or the details from page 3 of the club magazine. You need to register in the normal way
  • AOL Customers: Make sure you check the 'Remember me' check box otherwise the AOL system may log you out during the session. This is a known issue with AOL.
  • AOL, Yahoo and Plus.net users. Forum owners such as us are finding that AOL, Yahoo and Plus.net are blocking a lot of email generated from forums. This may mean your registration activation and other emails will not get to you, or they may appear in your spam mailbox

Thread Informations

Brake pedal on 1978 244DL

Views : 2321

Replies : 22

Users Viewing This Thread :  

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old Jan 19th, 2004, 22:33   #1
neil stevenson
Senior Member
 

Last Online: Jun 6th, 2017 15:09
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Carrowdore
Default Brake pedal on 1978 244DL

Hi All,
My 1978 244DL failed its M.O.T. with the rear brake balance being under 30%.
I have replaced the rear discs and pads and the shoes were in good order so were reused.
I took the car for a test drive and all seemed well with the car stopping nice and straight.
Once in my drive way I sat listening to the radio with the car in neutral, engine running and my foot hard on the brake pedal. Slowly the pedal started to sink to the floor but the car remained on the hill and did not roll forward.
I removed my foot from the brake pedal and then pushed it down very hard again and again the pedal slowly started to sink to the floor.
As far as I am aware I did not break anything whilst fitting the discs and I pressed the pedal a few times before I took the car out for a test drive to settle the new pads and operated the hand brake a few times to settle the old shoes.
As it was now dark and I had to go to work I have not investigated further.
Do I have a master cylinder problem or a leak some where else? What should I suspect?
__________________
Neil Stevenson
2000 S40 1600cc.
940 SE Turbo Estate.(sold).
neil stevenson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Jan 20th, 2004, 00:03   #2
vjck_uk
Premier member
 
vjck_uk's Avatar
 

Last Online: Jul 29th, 2017 16:54
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: southern edge of birmingham
Default RE: Brake pedal on 1978 244DL

Hi Neil,
That sounds very much like a knackered master cylinder assumming you have no fluid loss.
If the fluid level is dropping but no visible leak it's odds on the servo nbg.
Regards.
Vaughan
vjck_uk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Jan 20th, 2004, 19:24   #3
Ben O Brien
Senior Member
 

Last Online: Nov 8th, 2023 19:22
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: limerick
Default RE: Brake pedal on 1978 244DL

Hi Neil.
Sorry i am unable to give any technical advice although in my experience of brakes it sounds like either there is something missing at the disk i.e. the pads letting the pistons in the caliper compress too much which i think is unlikely if youve looked over it or as vaughan suggests the master cylinder is knackered.
Anyway my reason for replying-i have two cars here for parts and a garage full so if you need anything give me a shout and i can probably post them(well the master cylinder anyway as the servo is a tad big)
Best Regards
Ben
82 242
82 244
89 245
91 245
96 850
Ben O Brien is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Jan 20th, 2004, 20:58   #4
Clifford Pope
Not an expert but ...
 

Last Online: Today 10:11
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Boncath
Default RE: Brake pedal on 1978 244DL

It sounds like the master cylinder leaking internally. This often happens after any major work even if the fluid circuit has not been disturbed. What happens is that either pressing in the caliper pistons to fit the new pads sends old dirty fluid back up the pipes, or else the pedal inevitably gets depressed further than normally and so runs the seals down on to a section of bore that may be a bit rusty or have dirty deposits. Either way the seals get damaged slightly. The brakes may work but as you have found the pedal slowly sinks to the floor.

I wouldn't bother with trying a used MC - they are quite cheap new from Europarts or German-Swedish.
It will need bench-bleeding. With skill and luck you can replace a MC without letting in any air so not needing to bleed the whole system.
If you let in air near the MC you then get involved in the pain of trying to bleed the rear pressure relief valves or re-setting the dreaded 'octopus'.

Good luck - if you find you do need to replace the MC and need more tips do ask - I have quite a good success record (ie 3/3) of replacing MCs without re-bleeding!
Clifford Pope is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Jan 20th, 2004, 21:35   #5
vjck_uk
Premier member
 
vjck_uk's Avatar
 

Last Online: Jul 29th, 2017 16:54
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: southern edge of birmingham
Default RE: Brake pedal on 1978 244DL

I would'nt advise fitting a new master cylinder without bleeding the entire system properly.
Your brake fluid needs changing every couple of years as it absorbs water (being hydroscopic) and will corrode internally, calipers,pipes and master cylinder.
Plus the water content drastically reduces the boiling point of the fluid which can lead to entire brake loss after a sustained heavy braking session.
Just take a look at the old fluid when you bleed it.
It looks like someone has washed some potatoes in it.
Vaughan
vjck_uk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Jan 20th, 2004, 23:03   #6
neil stevenson
Senior Member
 

Last Online: Jun 6th, 2017 15:09
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Carrowdore
Default RE: Brake pedal on 1978 244DL

Thanks guys.

Looks like the master cylinder has had it and I will fit a new one and bleed the system complete and have fresh fluid all round. I'll let you know how I get on.
__________________
Neil Stevenson
2000 S40 1600cc.
940 SE Turbo Estate.(sold).
neil stevenson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Jan 21st, 2004, 16:19   #7
Clifford Pope
Not an expert but ...
 

Last Online: Today 10:11
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Boncath
Default RE: Brake pedal on 1978 244DL

Just to clarify what I meant. When I said you can get away without bleeding the system I didn't mean don't flush it through. I just meant don't at any stage introduce any air. You flush the old fluid out with the new behind it until each bleed nipple in turn runs clear.
Clifford Pope is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Jan 22nd, 2004, 18:52   #8
neil stevenson
Senior Member
 

Last Online: Jun 6th, 2017 15:09
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Carrowdore
Default RE: Brake pedal on 1978 244DL

Please explain how to not get any air into the system when changeing the master cylinder.
I should know now before I start work.
__________________
Neil Stevenson
2000 S40 1600cc.
940 SE Turbo Estate.(sold).
neil stevenson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Jan 23rd, 2004, 09:40   #9
Clifford Pope
Not an expert but ...
 

Last Online: Today 10:11
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Boncath
Default RE: Brake pedal on 1978 244DL

Disconnect each pipe at the MC and immediately plug with a bit of tapered wood, eg one of those golf things. Remove the MC.

Start with the new MC on the bench. Fill it up, and gently press the plunger to encourage fluid down into the chambers, taking out the plastic plugs for a bit. The when you have got as much fluid in and air out as possible, fit it into the car.
Remove one of your pipe plugs, and see that it is still brimming with fluid. Inject a bit more if not. Quickly pull the plastic MC plug and connect up the pipe, but don't tighten fully.
Repeat with the other. Loosen one coupling a bit more, and very gently depress the pedal a bit. Keep the reservoir topped up. Watch/listen for fluid bubbling out of the leaking connection. Don't press too much so that you risk pumping any fluid/air down the pipes, just enough to let it weep out of the joint - like doing a house radiator. Tighten the connector. (Lots of rags underneath )
Repeat with the other pipe.
Then slacken one a little bit, and press harder on the pedal just to see if you have got all the air. Repeat, then tighten fully.
With luck the pedal will now be rock hard.
Clifford Pope is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Jan 23rd, 2004, 18:21   #10
neil stevenson
Senior Member
 

Last Online: Jun 6th, 2017 15:09
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Carrowdore
Default RE: Brake pedal on 1978 244DL

Thanks For that. Will hopefully have the time to purchase Master Cylinder tomorrow and will fit it over the next day or two. When fitted I intend to change all the fluid but your tip should ensure that no air gets in and fresh fluid shouldkeep the system working for the next couple of years.
__________________
Neil Stevenson
2000 S40 1600cc.
940 SE Turbo Estate.(sold).
neil stevenson is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 19:13.


Powered by vBulletin
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.