Suzuki Club UK

Hi, I recently had to change the rear brake cylinders on my samurai, since then the brakes have felt very spongy, although they stop the vehicle the pedal just dont seem right, I have bled the brakes many times and no air is in the system, I also replaced the master cylinder with a second hand one, the rear brakes have beeen adjusted, I got a mechanic to check everything and re-bleed the brakes but the pedal is still the same, he cannot work out why they are like it, maybe we are both missing something as they were fine before I had to change wheel cylinders due to leaking fluid. Any info would be great ....Thanks

Are the adjusters in the brake drums working correctly? If the little spring loaded arm doesn't stop the adjuster going back in, the brakes will become un-adjusted and you will get a spongy pedal

thanks for your reply..do you mean the ratchet adjusters, because they are siezed and worn.

Those are what he's talking about. Unsieze them/replace them. If your rear brakes aren't adjusting, your brakes will slowly become less and less effective as the drums/shoes wear. Danger, Will Robinson, Danger!

I'd be going to a different mechanic from now on, too. If he can't work out that a critical component in your brake setup being worn and seized = BAD, then perhaps you should be using a different mechanic.

I have tried to replace the adjusters before but they seem impossible to get hold of,

If you need your rear brakes right now... adjust them out by hand until the brake drum only just fits back on, then stick a couple of cable ties around the threaded bit of the adjuster.
This will stop them from retracting too far and will give you some brakes at least!

Remember its a temporary measure and your brakes will still get worse with use, just not as fast

Oh also, use the bit where your handbrake cable splits into 2... if its level it means the rear brakes are even. very handy for setting it up as i posted above.

Also, those adjusters are a main stealer only part, are quite expensive and last time I had to wait 3 weeks for one

My mate at euro car parts got me some from a BMW. Dont know what model but had to use them on the opposite sides.

Perfect length, cheap, and available.

Dan

When you replaced the wheel cylinders was the nipple at the top or was the pipe??

I had 1 with the pipe at the top this the brakes were always spongy.

ok thanks for all your replies....