Forum:
i think my master cylinder has gone as i am getting air bubbling in resvoir and it wont pump brake fluid out of the bleed nipples it is a 1981 f20 does eny body know if eny other master cylinder will fit as carnt get one from main dealer or can thay be fixed eny help would be most greatful thanks anthony.t
Master cylinder
If you are struggling to get fluid out of the rear nipples check the brake proportioning valve, it has two bleed nipples of its own, bleed from here first, then the rear brakes. Make sure you are pushing the pedal hard as there is a stiff spring in the proportioning valve which needs to be overcome to get a decent volume of fluid to flow to the rear wheel cylinders. Before you scrap the master cylinder, try releasing one one unions in turn in each brake line near to the wheel and press the pedal again. If you get fluid out without any trouble then the bleed nipples may be blocked. Failing that, I may have a cylinder. Let me know how it goes.
Alastair.
f20 brakes
i have found out whats wrong rear brake cynlinders siezd sorted them out can bleed to the back now but the front ones are well siezd and the seals have gone on one of them do you now where i can get some new cylninders from ore new seals do you now why thay use two on each wheel seems a bit silly as only one on the back thanks anthony
re: F20 brakes
I did a bodge job on the rear wheel cylinders once when I got stuck in B'ham after replacing a rear wheel bearing. Sunday morning and nowhere listed any F20 parts at all. In the end the local parts shop guy lent me his catalogue and we shifted through his stock and found some VW beetle front cylinders with the same internal diameter as the Daihatsu ones for £7 each. I used the seals and pistons from these and cleaned up the springs and the rusty bore of the old cylinders with some fine emery paper. I think these lasted through a couple of MOTs at least!!
You can get the cylinders relined with a stainless sleeve if you can't get round it any other way. Try these people
http://www.powertrackbrakes.co.uk/products.html
Or look for an advert in the back of practical classics magazine in Tesco - don't buy it, just read it in the shop !!
Regards - Alastair.