Rear brakes

[DevonMike]

Morning everyone,

My 2003 connect failed the MOT on rear service brake imbalance, the passenger rear is OK but the drivers side is weak, I've tried bleeding the brakes and adjusting the shoes but no luck.

The handbrake works perfectly.

I'm thinking maybe the load compensating valve is causing me problems, you've got to press really hard on the brake pedal to get any real drag on the drivers side rear, but the passager side almost locks.

Has anyone experience this kind of fault, or have any idea's where I could look.

Thanks in advance.
Mike.

[metalworker0]

Well there is a load of things you need to look at.
1, Peal back the boots on the wheel cylinders and check for seepage, if there has been any ..you need new wheel cylinder and shoes.

2. Linkages to the shoes ..check they are not seized, this is an arm that is riveted to the shoe ..take the shoes off and free it up.

3,I don't own a connect with this compensating device --- plus i cant even find diagrams for it ..so i cant tell you about that!

4. Hand brake cable may be seized inside the outer cable..or one side seized in outer cable.

5 , The mechanism: shoes, adjusters, springs etc ..can be put together a number of different ways (see 9)..,.now then ford or Haynes don't actually show any clearly laid out diagrams so you can get this right. i've searched many times and found nothing that is clear.

6. Very common - pistons can seize inside cylinders...both pistons in one cylinder or one piston in one cylinder. push in each one with the drum removed , they should be free.

7. It is possible to fit wheel cylinder upside down (not blaming you ) ..therefor for bleed valve is upside down and useless.

8. There is a pivot point behind the hand brake lever that can seize up.

9. it is possible to fit the hand brake cable to that arm on the brake two different ways, if i remember .. the cable approaching from behind or in front
it is possible to fit the automatic adjuster 4 different ways.
Each spring can be fitted 4 different ways .
Get the lot wrong ..and nothing will work properly....i suggest you copy the other side bearing in mind that it is the mirror reversed image of it.
suggest; find old ford escort diagram.

all the best.mark

[DevonMike]

Thank you for your help, certainly points me towards finding the fault.

I'm replacing a wheel cylinder, and fitting 2 new drums, so I will see how I get on.

Mike.