NCT rear brake imbalance

Edwardius

Hey lads,

Failed the NCT on rear brake imbalance, which was 41% (with an allowable figure of 30%) (1020KN nearside, 1740 offside)

Parking brake was 1260 nearside, 1730 offside but that was a 27% imbalance so it passed on that but it still looks too large for my liking.

Seeing as both systems are out of whack I'm assuming this is an issue the shoes and drums (drum braked Avensis) rather than something in the hydraulics? Does anyone have any experience of this type of fail? Also, shoes are running about 40€ online, does this seem reasonable or would a motor factors be better value? One more question: does anyone have any idea how much it would it cost to get a garage to test the brake balance after changing the drums and if it's cheaper than a retest :P?

Thanks
Ed

-Corkie-

Thats gas because my Avensis failed on the same thing. One of the shoes was hanging off so I changed them anyway and cleaned up the drum.

You can bleed the hydraulic pump if needs be..

Oh yes I got mine checked yesterday in a main dealer for 20 quid..

Avns1s

Just change the shoes and it should solve it for both the handbrake and the service brake.

Changed a set recently enough and they were hanging off too. Can't quite remember the price. Will look for the docket later.

Edwardius

Thanks folks, new shoes ordered (as well as loads of other stuff I probably don't need ).

Edwardius

Right, removed everything yesterday to have a look at what I was dealing with. The right mounting hardware and shoes were all in place but it looked like the adjuster lever wasn't engaging properly for some reason so freed up the adjuster screw and remounted the lever.

On the left (stronger) side: The little spring surrounding the handbrake cable seemed to have rusted a bit and seized to the cable, I freed this up with some grease. The back plate seemed to have a decent amount of rust, which almost looked like heat damage. the cylinder was "moist" under the seals and there's some sort of oxide around the rubber. The drum and backing plates were dry but seeing as the paint was stripped off I guess there was some fluid escape.

Next question: how do you guys plug brake pipes when changing cylinders?

I got one of these for clamping the hose:
http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_214147_langId_-1_categoryId_212616

Edwardius

Right, shoes changed, two new wheel cylinders (20 bills apiece from Consort in Artane) fitted, bled four corners and put in fresh fluid. Tested it out and got back without wrapping it around a tree, no leaks from the union bolts as yet so I think it was successful. Won't quit the day job though. That took the guts of four hours ! Retest on monday so fingers crossed. I'll take it to someone who actually knows what they're doing if it fails again :P.

Edwardius

Passed today, thanks for advice etc .

-Corkie-

Dead Ed wrote: »

Passed today, thanks for advice etc .

Are you sure your not my alt account because mine passed aswell earlier...:-P:-P:-P:-P