C15 D Champ vanshite

[John F]

Anyone got any idea what might cause a front brake imbalance of 35 percent on a C15 D Champ?

 

I'm working on one of these anachronistic little blighters for a mate of mine, it's a well-used 02 plate that looks like it's 40 years old. Surprisingly, it only failed its MoT on the brake imbalance and headlight alignment...!

 

I'm guessing that a new set of front pads will cure the imbalance (the discs are fine), but I'm not all that familiar with French shite.

 

Any help much appreciated - ta!

[trigger]

We used to run these when i worked for a motor factors, the brakes were shite on them even when new, I fitted a set of EPC Green stuff pads to them which made the brakes better.

[John F]

We used to run these when i worked for a motor factors, the brakes were shite on them even when new, I fitted a set of EPC Green stuff pads to them which made the brakes better.

 

Cheers trig. I'll bung a new set of pads on it then.

[Andrew353w]

I used to service one of these for a local guy; the brakes were always playing up & the imbalance was cleared on one occasion by changing the discs as well as the pads. Seems to be along the lines of the cures already suggested. Pads & discs are probably the cause.

[Albert Ross]

If these are the "dog-eared" Asymmetric pads, watch where they come form, they are handed and oddly shaped. They are also prone to calipers seizing, both on the sliders and on the pistons (Floating calipers) Watch also for hardened hoses, and in that case, also watch for seized bleed nipples, these calipers are sometimes aluminium, and that means corrosion where steel meets it. Sometime best to replace the pair for recon ones, with hoses, pads and discs.

[dollywobbler]

If these are the "dog-eared" Asymmetric pads, watch where they come form, they are handed and oddly shaped. They are also prone to calipers seizing, both on the sliders and on the pistons (Floating calipers) Watch also for hardened hoses, and in that case, also watch for seized bleed nipples, these calipers are sometimes aluminium, and that means corrosion where steel meets it. Sometime best to replace the pair for recon ones, with hoses, pads and discs.

 

All of this stuff. Sliding calipers are the work of satan, but pads can and do get stuck too. Dismantling and copper greasing might well sort it. With the pads out, you can check that the caliper is sliding properly. Stuck sliders on the Maverick massacred the inside pad and caused a massive pull to one side on the brakes. I have never, ever had a caliper problem on a 2CV. THAT'S PROGRESS!

[John F]

Fantastic - thanks for the info, lads.

[Morgan84]

I would guess its typically corroded up front brakes,which if cleaned up nicely,and assembled with copper compound should hopefully sort the problem out. It wont do any harm to spray a little WD40 around the calliper piston before pushing it back in,and then try pressing it out a little,and work the piston back and forwards a few times to make sure the piston is free,although you will feel on the first push back if the piston is free or not.

 

Lack of maintainance is the biggest problem with brakes - keep driving till they make funny noises,or stop working !!

[dollywobbler]

Sorry, it WILL do harm to spray WD40 around the caliper seals from what I've read. You should only use proper caliper grease, which won't damage the rubber seal.

[John F]

Sorry, it WILL do harm to spray WD40 around the caliper seals from what I've read. You should only use proper caliper grease, which won't damage the rubber seal.

 

How about copper grease?

[dollywobbler]

Google (so it must be true) emphatically states not. I think you need to use the right grease on the caliper pins too, though if they're dry, they might be so seized that you end up ruining them getting them out. I fitted new pins to the Maverick, which came with a packet of grease.

[John F]

Google (so it must be true) emphatically states not. I think you need to use the right grease on the caliper pins too, though if they're dry, they might be so seized that you end up ruining them getting them out. I fitted new pins to the Maverick, which came with a packet of grease.

 

 

Yep, just been looking myself. There seems to be some support for molybdenum grease over lithium grease and copper grease. I'm sure I've got a tube of moly somewhere...

[John F]

Fitted new pads to the Chump today, the sliding calipers were nice & loose.

 

But then whilst preparing to bleed the system I noticed that the bleed nipple had been snapped off on the n/s caliper, and the one on the o/s caliper sheared when I applied minimum force... that might account for the braking imbalance!

 

Two new calipers, then

[skattrd]

Can't you (carefully) drill the threads out of the bleed nipples?

[John F]

Can't you (carefully) drill the threads out of the bleed nipples?

 

We tried to get them out with a stud extractor but they were well seized. And we decided against drilling them out in case it knackered the threads / seats and made the van undriveable.

 

New calipers are only about £26 a side though, the van's owner is happy enough to pay that.

[purplebargeken]

I was going to suggest Big Redd re: caliper refurb but at the price you just quoted it is not worth pee'ing around. That is bloody cheap.

 

Ken

[Morgan84]

Another sign of neglect - had the van had regular brake fluid changes,then the nipples wouldn't have seized in the callipers.On every service I do,even if the fluid isn't to be changed,I soak some penetrating oil,or something similar like Duck Oil around the bleed nipples to help keep them from seizing in

[dollywobbler]

Not sure it's a sign of neglect. How many people actually treat bleed nipples as a service item? Granted, nipples should be opened every couple of years for the brake fluid change that everyone naturally forgets to do - s'pose that's a kind of neglect. Oiling the nipples every now and then is the sensible thing to do, which I never manage...

[Morgan84]

I do tend to pamper things to death though

 

Old saying my Grandfather used to use ( Ex RAF aircraft technician in WW2 ) " If it moves oil it,if it stands still -salute it "

[Albert Ross]

I do tend to pamper things to death though

 

Old saying my Grandfather used to use ( Ex RAF aircraft technician in WW2 ) " If it moves oil it,if it stands still -salute it "

 

Old Army saying (My Old Man) If it moves, salute it, if it doesn't, paint it white! (1950s Cyprus)

[scruff]

We used to run these when i worked for a motor factors, the brakes were shite on them even when new, I fitted a set of EPC Green stuff pads to them which made the brakes better.

 

The brakes on mine are rubbish too, I thought it was knackered but 10 mins on the interwebz confirmed that it is normal!