Rear brake compensator & Diff whine advice please.

[ogami]

Hi There, I'm a total newbie when it comes to Transits, just bought my first one and have a couple of questions.

It's a 1996 (N) 190 LWB 2.5 diesel.

1. The guy I bought it off said it needs a replacement rear brake compensator?!
When there's no weight in it and you hit the brakes a bit hard the rear end locks up, though gentle braking is fine and the guy said when you have a load on it's fine.

So, where is the brake compensator? is this likely to be the problem or might it be something else? would it def need replacing or is it something that can be overhauled? where would be a good place to get one from?

I've not got stacks of cash so if it would be reasonable then one from a breakers would be preferable... or would that not be recommended?

2. The van has quite a whiny diff when you get above 30ish, is this something that can be solved without changing the diff? Or again where would be a good place to get a replacement from?

Hope that all makes sense;)

TIA
Ogami

[MrMPuk]

1. Look above the axle and follow the brake pipes you will find the brake compensator. You may find that it is jammed and you may be able to just free it up.

2. Have you chacked the oil level in the diff?

[ogami]

OK, Thanks mate:)

Not checked the diff oil level as not sure how (I am newb but def willing to learn!) but just looked and clearly oil round the bottom so it's leaking. Would this just mean replacing the seal? Is it a big job?


Guess this is the brake compensator, looks well rusty. is it supposed to move quite a bit?


Also there appear to be only 2 fuses in the fuse box (and one of those well dodgy) but so far only the cigar lighter not working (need to get sorted for phone charging and the like) guess this box should be full?? Quite confused by it I have to say, would think with only 2 fuses a lot more stuff should be not working!


TIA
Ogami

[MrMPuk]

No that fuse box is just the main power cut off, your fuse box is inside the van.

[Frag]

Have you tried cleanin & adjusting rear brakes before messing with lav/compensator?

Rear brakes will "snatch" badly when empty if out of adjustment or full of dust.

[ogami]

Have you tried cleanin & adjusting rear brakes before messing with lav/compensator?

Rear brakes will "snatch" badly when empty if out of adjustment or full of dust.

Not yet, though they do seem better now the compensator been WD40'd up and freed off a bit. Will look at them this weekend:)

[martynx]

How do you setup the compensator on a RWD Mk6 LWB , theres about 12mm freeplay at the mo ..?.

[Frag]

Martyn,there is some free play on them,has it been altered or any reason to want to adjust it ?

There is a plastic distance piece that clips onto end of rod,then you move the round ring with locking bolt down the bar & tighten it (i can look on e-tis for procedure if you want)

The plastic piece is red and is sometimes left in vans from factory/at p.d.i.

The only time i can remember adjustin them was when fitting the ride height kit,the lav bracket gets spacered down after fitting blocks between springs and axle.

[Kerunk]

How do you setup the compensator on a RWD Mk6 LWB , theres about 12mm freeplay at the mo ..?.

Hi Martin,

There should be a sticker with setup instructions behind passenger seat (may be drivers seat on yours!) that's what I used to set mine up, now the back brakes are spot on.

Cheers,

Rob

[martynx]

on a van with poor rear brake perforamcce the mot man siad to remove the freeplay - didnt sound right !... i have adjusted the shoes now & they seem much better but i will look again for the sticker..

[Frag]

I wouldn`t mess with the compensator,poor brakes/excess travel on foot or hanbbrake is usually rear shoes out of adjustment.
Tighten the adjusters manually till shoes just start to drag,sometimes best to back off handbrake cable in case someone has mistakenly tightened it

If you still have poor effort & shoes aren`t worn out,remove drums & clean/service the brakes.

[martynx]

Its was just adjustment, loads of clicks & the pedal is much firmer now ... the MOT man failed it on rear brake performance & suggested taking the play out of the compensator, bad advice i think !

[Frag]

Its was just adjustment, loads of clicks & the pedal is much firmer now ... the MOT man failed it on rear brake performance & suggested taking the play out of the compensator, bad advice i think !

Slightly,especially as removing play would actually make brakes worse/less pressure