Braking problems

[John1991]

Hey guys got a 54 series 1 with a fairly worked 202 having trouble with brakes just wondering what and how people have upgraded their braking system thinking of maybe using a Suzuki or hilux booster and master cylinder any suggestions and help will be greatly appreciated

[wrighty]

The easiest thing to do is to fit LWB brakes with front brakes from a 6 cylinder or stage 1 which have wider front shoes. All should bolt on.

[John1991]

I have a set of diffs I want to put under it they are series 2 I believe, fully floating they have wider drums and shoes but I am more interested in solving the problem of bleeding the brakes having trouble at the moment where I bleed the brakes and they great next day no brakes again everything is new can't figure it out

[wrighty]

Does it have standard brakes on it now? Original? Originals brakes will have 10" drums. If it has 11" drums fitted on the rear check that the adjustment cams are central on the adjustment peg on the shoe.

[wrighty]

Another trick is to clamp the brake hoses in turn with a brake hose clamp or carefully with vice grips to isolate a problem. You can also clamp both front hoses & the rear one to see it the problem is in the master cylinder.

[John1991]

All standard replaced everything except the steel lines I just thinking a more modern setup might be way to go I'll try the clamps first thou

[John1991]

And would u know how hard it would be to convert to disc

[JDNSW]

All standard replaced everything except the steel lines I just thinking a more modern setup might be way to go I'll try the clamps first thou

The problem with "a more modern setup" is that you then have an experimental setup, which may have even more problems, such as incorrect front/rear braking effort..

The standard setup certainly should not need bleeding every day. You need to find the real problem. It is likely that you have one (or more) of the following problems:-

1. A faulty 'new' component, most likely the master cylinder.

2. Adjusters not staying put

3. Incorrectly installed return springs on brake shoes

4. Incorrect adjustment of the pushrod on the master cylinder

Also remember that you can bleed brakes at any union, although from your description I doubt this is needed.

As others have suggested, upgrading brakes using Series 2/3 lwb components, including perhaps 'six cylinder' front brakes will improve braking substantially above standard. Fitting a booster can also reduce pedal pressure. Fitting dual circuit brakes will be possible, but not as easy, due to the master cylinder being below the floor.

Disc brakes can be fitted, but the conversion will be quite expensive, for little advantage except resistance to fade and being less affected by wading. A booster is essential for discs, as is engineering approval.

[John1991]

Thanks for that as u can imagine I've checked and reche?ked the brakes multiple times I reckon u would be right at pointing Blame towards master and those pushrods especially as I believe certain parts of the pushrod setup are custom by the fact that their stainless

[John1991]

I'll try a new master it's just that I have been lead to believe that brake issues are common in land rovers especially the bleeding of them is this not the case ?