Rear Brake Shenanigans

[ryan13961345402285 1]

Hi guys,

been a while since I posted on here. The 405 has been parked up for quite a while, but I'm currently in the process of rebuilding it (again!)

 

However I've come across a couple of problems.

I removed the rear calipers and rebuilt them due to siezed handbrake levers. Did the proper method of bleeding them but I noticed the passenger side caliper had barely any fluid coming through it. Could this be a dodgy load valve? All hoses etc are ok.

 

Also I've never had a decent handbrake on this car. The cables are fine and properly adjusted, yet with all new discs/pads and calipers it barely scraped through the MOT. Is this common on 405's?

[ryan13961345402285 1]

Had a closer look at the load valve, and the spring is broken at the "hook" end, hence it's not actually doing anything. Does anyone know if the spring is still available from Peugeot?

[welshpug 1,657]

nope, you need to buy the whole unit, £70 odd from GSF.

[ryan13961345402285 1]

Just found someone who makes them

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Peugeot-Citroen-...=item2a159552e2

 

May have a go at it myself. Checked the load valve and the actual plungers seem to have very little movement. They pull in and out slightly but this seems to be "slack". I can't seem to force them in at all

[ryan13961345402285 1]

Ok, bit the bullet and took the valve off. Everything is free enough, but the 2 pistons seem to be designed to move very little. Is this the way it's supposed to be? I'm talking 3-4mm of movement in total when they're screwed into the block. I'm assuming this block acts like an on/off valve? ie it's either open or shut?

[B1ack_Mi16 67]

Well I was adjusting mine after putting a new beam on my car and lowered it a bit.

 

It actually noticeably changed the rear bias a just adjusting some on the spring nut, so it's surely not an on/off action.

You need to activate the compensator however to get the fluid flow through it when bleeding the brakes.

 

Without that you just won't be able to do it properly.

[welshpug 1,657]

fantastic find! I'll have to get one of those, my 405 did have a valve fitted a few years ago and hasnt done many miles since, but is likely to have corroded quite a bit as its stored outside!

 

they are a variable valve not and on-off valve, the ports are quite small.

[ryan13961345402285 1]

Ok little update. Stripped the valve and everything is fine. I reckon the valve has been replaced when the new brake pipes were put on before I bought it, since the body itself is in very good shape once I scraped the crud off it. To test it I used an airline and its amazing how much air is let through the valve when the plungers are fully shut as opposed to when they're open. I didn't think such little movement would have such an effect. Seems the problem is simply the broken spring. Going to have a go at making something up to replace the spring.