C15A brakes jamming

[harrygrey382]

Originally Posted by Bruce Parker

I bet the wheel cylinders are 'stale' and not releasing allowing the shoes to retract. Pull a wheel and a cylinder to see what's up. If the bores are clean then clean up all four wheels and the master, re-bleed and away you go. If pitted and full of crap...you'll know what to do.

Typically it goes the other way after a long sit. You apply pressure at the pedal and the rotten seals or pitting causes a pressure loss.

That's what I suspected - that's why I did what I did with the shoe adjusters. I put a lot of force on them to retract the pistons and nothing changed. So either the pistons are seized solid (I guess possible) or there's a mechanical obstruction.

Originally Posted by TCLARK

Also make sure there is a bit of "play" in the brake pedal when at the top. My CMP will sometimes not let the brake lights go out because all the pressure is not released. I backed off the rod in the brake master cylinder so there was play and problem solved.

Hmm not much play, I guess there's a tiny amount but the pedal is right at the top

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

This can be proven easily by releasing a bleed nipple on a wheel and seeing if it will then turn, if it does not then it is a seized wheel cylinder.

Yep that's what I tried first up, no change. As above I guess you're right it could be a (well 4) very very seized cylinders.

Was liking the idea of the master cylinder return washer in the wrong way round, if releasing the pressure made a difference I'd be right on it. Now I just have to go and pull a drum off... Is going to be fun with these tight shoes