Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998 16:08:30 -0400 (EDT)
From: Carsten Bussmann
Subject: Brake problems !!!

Hi there,
it's me again- I have a brake problem on my Centaur that I cannot solve myself and I hope someone here could help me ?

Problem: Everything is NEW, except the reservoir. A complete set of ne wheel cyls (each 8 pounds), new master brake/clutch cyls(each 24 pounds) was used, together with new tubes/hoses(complete set at 20 pounds).
Everything seems to be tight, no brake fluid escapes from any joint. I set the system under pedal pressure using a car jack, and nothing dropped down in 12 minutes.

But, problem: I tried to de-air the brake some 10 times now, and all I got yet is a brake that works- when I pump three times in fast strokes.
When I press down first, no reaction. get the foot up again, press down-re-pressure comes. Up again, down again- 1" way till wheels block. There is apparently NO fluid going down in the reservoir, I mean the level is constant . I see some 'moving' in the reservoir first and second stroke, but not much , only a little twirl.
question: what is this causing ? I jacked up the car, and adjusted ALL wheel cyls so that the brake makes a slight scratchy noise every wheel turnaround once or so, then I tried again. It got a bit better. I bled it again, not better.
I use standard cat. 5 fluid, no silicon fluid or something like that.
Only thing is that the metal tubes are sometimes a bit too long for the centaur, as the imp is of another shape (at least, a bit different:-})
I rounded them up to spirals, to compensate for the length. I can't make my own, really fitting ones, as the pressure nipple form is unknown in metric ruled germany.
Maybe air is 'sitting' in the spiral arches ? Shoud I try to bleed the system with a motor pump, from a windscreen washer or so ?
Please tell me your ideas as I'm helpless (I even drove in this state -only to drive it), bye, thanks,
Carsten

Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998 23:56:16 +0100 (WET DST)
From: kenneth barlow
Subject: Re: Brake problems !!!

Hey, I know how you feel. I had/have a car like that, I am driving it now, althought the brakes do work, just not much. I think the answer (not sure yet as I have to do it myself) is you have to slacken the front adjusters and tighten the rear before bleeding, this will ensure no air is in the cyinders.

It is in the Haynes manual under brakes.

I hope this helps.

Kenneth