THAT Lada Samara - It's now FOAD's

[KruJoe]

There is no actual manual adjustment, I think it supposed to be self-adjusting within each piston itself. There is a solid ring that fits tightly within the cylinder, and the piston and seal move freely (about 2mm) on that ring. As the shoes wear, the solid ring can be forced out slightly (with a strong press of the brakes) to take up the slack; it ratchets out over time. Or it should. This didn't work on my bad side, with new or old units.

If your clamp+test idea works, I could try my second new cylinder - maybe my 'good' side is more worn and loose, seeming more effective...

[Barry Cade]

Few questions first. Is there 3 or 4 pipes coming out of the master cylinder, and how many pipes come out of the load sensing valve and is the pedal spongy or solid? Trying to remember back to when I worked on these things- I'm sure I had a similar issue with one where a piston stuck inside the load valve- a good couple of taps cured it. Clamp off the other 3 hoses and if the pedal goes solid you have a blockage or restriction in a hose or pipe, or the load valve.

[KruJoe]

Tiff, looking at the HaynesBOL, without going back up to the shed, the master cyl has one outlet for each of the four wheels.

 

Two in, two out of the rear pressure regulator.

 

Solid pedal all along (except for when bleeding successfully, or popping pistons out of the 'good' side).

 

Pictures:

 

 

 

 

 

I hope that helps to jog your memory! Thank you so much. That's a good call on clouting the regulator too.

Plenty of things to try tomorrow, I must get to bed now; thanks for all the suggestions so far, keep 'em coming!

[KruJoe]

So near yet still so far... I will try some of those suggestions later today. In fact I need to fix this today if I'm to make it to Chumley

Starting to panic a bit!

[nigel bickle]

These are near identical to the myriad of 60's/70's Fiats I retain.

 

Almost without exception, I find the fault lies in the flexi. I've had all sorts of issues- but now hold a stock of spares which I swop out immediately. Near 100% cure- even when I couldnt see anything wrong with it.

[KruJoe]

Thank you Nigel, sounds like a prime suspect.

Do you know, are flexis a fairly universal fitting between different makes of cars? (In the same way that many unions on cylinders are M10 fitment.)

[nigel bickle]

Pretty much. T here's a hell of a lot of 'generic' stuff out there. For instance a Renault Master/Scenic brakeslave cylinder (£1.99 each) is IDENTICAL to a 1962 Fiat 1100 (£67) or a 67 Peugeot J7 camper (£98) - I've just fitted both without any issues. Bore size identical, too! If you've made up the tooling -why change it?

 

If in doubt take the existing hose into a good factor. Its pretty common across the range but if they cant trace it, most can measure & cross compare. Even if they dont have anything in stock (some really rare ones for instance- not this) most can make , or get Goodrich made up in a few hours. Speedy Spares (In Brighton) did me a bunch of 12, two years back at £2 each. Ready 24 hrs later.

 

I'll wager yours fits, mid size 60's & 70's Fiats (124, 125, 131,132) FSO (125p, Polnez) Lada (1200, 1500, Riva, possibly Niva) & a good few more.

 

They arent expensive. Change it, it'll solve it or at least take another issue out of the equation.

[catsinthewelder]

I'm guessing that they'd be the same either side so swapping them over could tell you if they're at fault?

 

If you can get them for £2 a pop I'd just replace them rather than fannying around but as you're stuck and need something now theres no harm in seeing if something off the Rover or Volvo will fit other than time and mess.

 

Best of luck

[Guest]

The ones I had sent over from Poland for the Caro Truck said Fiat Uno on the packet. Freedom caravans had advised some from a Renault would work.

[Vin]

This is ACE work KJ. Love it

 

I can't help with the brakes though. Sorry.

[nigel bickle]

I'll bet that pissed you off, Ben. Hope they weren't expensive!

[Guest]

I'll bet that pissed you off, Ben. Hope they weren't expensive!

 

Luckily I've remained friends with the Polish chap I bought the Caro Hatchback from and they were freebies but lesson learnt!

[KruJoe]

I *think* I now have similar foot brake effort on both back wheels. Fingers crossed. After tea, I'll take it down the road, then jack it up and test it again. Watch this space...

[Black_GT]

Nice one, hope it's sorted. Have to say this is a great effort

[KruJoe]

Firstly, thanks everyone so much for your input over the last 24 hours. We started on the suggestions, and tried a few ideas of our own, and I reckon we've cracked it!

 

Right, how did we do it?

I'm not sure... we started by comparing both sides, and working back from the cylinder forwards, and trying to see where the drop in pressure was occurring. We did this by cracking off each union one by one, and seeing at what pressure the fluid leaked out at. We settled on the pressure regulator valve as the culprit.

We clouted it from all directions, pushed and pulled on it, trying all sorts.

 

 

I also thought about when I dropped the tank to fix the leak, maybe I nipped a pipe when I cranked it back up into place. It all seemed to be free, but possibly I had kinked the line where it comes to the back end of the tunnel, and turns the corner to go around the tank:

 

 

So I undid the tank strap again and adjusted the line to straighten out the sharp bend, and remove the danger of it being trapped.

 

We tried adjusting the regulator valve, but we couldn't make it stay in any different position from where it was - this called for desperate measures.

 

 

This contraption acted as a spacer on the end of the pressure valve piston, and gave enough pressure on BOTH wheels to pop out the cylinder pistons. All back together for a test drive, but the rears locked up as soon as we thought about braking, so we backed it off to this:

 

 

The cable ties are just to catch our gadget if it drops out on the way to the retest.

 

Another test drive and muddy (private*) roads, and the wheels will lock up on the foot brake, but only very reluctantly (perfect), but most importantly they seem to lock out at the same time. The effort feels similar while turning the drums with a crow-bar in the shed, too. WIN!

 

A big thank you to my brother who was around this afternoon as a 'general spanner' and to my father who mostly sat on a spare wheel reading us passages from the HBOL.

 

 

I couldn't have done it without them. Credit to Ma.K.J. for the last image. Ta!

 

In 24 hours, this POS should be fully legal, and I'm 95% sure that this time on Saturday, we'll be on the road towards Chumley!

O.M.actual.G!

[catsinthewelder]

EPIC WIN

 

[trigger]

Winner winner chicken dinner! stunning work! fingers all cross for a pass then!

[Danblez]

Dedication to the cause 11/10!

[retrogeezer]

I look forward to seeing this big hunk of awesomeness on Sunday....good work sir!

[KruJoe]

 

WOOT!

 

 

This POS is actually legal! How did that happen?

 

 

Check out that rear brake balance reading! Woohoo!

 

 

Jack printed off my ticket, and I dashed to the Post office at the top of Haworth's famous cobbled main street. Just seconds to spare, they close at 5.30. I forgot to take my own picture, so here's someone else's.

 

 

I left the hazards on and dashed in for a hand-written disc (the best type, worth minimum two shite points over a printed one), and came out to find my flasher relay had stuck. That's shite for you! So no indicators for a few miles, but it worked again once it had cooled down again.

 

 

For quality testing service and value, telephone Jack, 42949.

[Minimad5]

Have to say, i admire your dedication.

 

Well done for jumping in and giving welding a right good go !

Hope to see you at ChumBumLay

[michiel]

Yay!

[e287yba]

 

Check out that rear brake balance reading! Woohoo!

 

 

 

It gets no better; happiness is a warm MoT (© Jalopy Magazine).

 

Well deserved after all your efforts!

[skattrd]

Brilliant work sir, and do I see no advisories as well

[Lankytim]

Need a bonnet? Probably not but you never know!

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lada-Samara-2 ... 337605a03c

 

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

dashed in for a hand-written disc (the best type, worth minimum two shite points over a printed one)

 

I stood in a queue on Friday afternoon for this very reason, handwritten with the wiggly stamp

[blguy1975]

I have LOVED this thread , Sir, You are a Restoration GOD!!! (makes MR China look like S**t )

[blguy1975]

I have LOVED this thread , Sir, You are a Restoration GOD!!! (makes MR China look like S**t )

[KruJoe]

... a Restoration GOD!!!

Er thanks - but hardly! She's legal, but not pretty.

 

Thanks for the heads-up on the bonnet, Tim. They won't come up often! I do keep my eyes peeled for cheap parts, but I don't need that, and hopefully I won't.

 

The Samara is still pottering on, making the occasional outing and work trip, mostly when the BX is low on petrol (or electricity!)

I try not to take it out in the rain - not because I'm precious about it, but the sunroof leaks into my lap!

[Felly Magic]

I love Ladas, dunno why, but mum did have a 1986 Riva 1200L which was like a battle tank!