Technical Fiat 500 1965 Berlina F Series 2 - Failed brakes

[stuiesav]

Hi

I have just purchased a Fiat 500 Berlina series 2 (which i think is a good thing!)

I have purchased it knowing that the brakes have an issue which is as follows:

- The brake pedal just sits on the floor
- There is fluid in the resevoir - but pumping the pedal does not bring the brakes into action

I think i need to do a strip down - replace master cylinder etc

Does anyone have a useful set of instructions to get at the master , how to remove - and instructions etc!

Any help would be massively appreciated

Thanks

Stu

 

[bugsymike]

Hi

I have just purchased a Fiat 500 Berlina series 2 (which i think is a good thing!)

I have purchased it knowing that the brakes have an issue which is as follows:

- The brake pedal just sits on the floor
- There is fluid in the resevoir - but pumping the pedal does not bring the brakes into action

I think i need to do a strip down - replace master cylinder etc

Does anyone have a useful set of instructions to get at the master , how to remove - and instructions etc!

Any help would be massively appreciated

Thanks

Stu

@the hobbler is probably the man to advise you.
However possibly from underneath and through wheel arch and great fun???
Sorry the last classic 500 I had was around 1978 and a 600 with suicide doors even before that.

 

[stuiesav]

@the hobbler is probably the man to advise you.
However possibly from underneath and through wheel arch and great fun???
Sorry the last classic 500 I had was around 1978 and a 600 with suicide doors even before that.

Ah - ok so its a get it in the air, wheels off job - and underneath it - well thats a start! @the hobbler if you could advise me of the process - that would do me a proper solid - thanks so much!

Stu

 

[bugsymike]

Ah - ok so its a get it in the air, wheels off job - and underneath it - well thats a start! @the hobbler if you could advise me of the process - that would do me a proper solid - thanks so much!

Stu

If you lock the steering right round and shine a torch in , if my memory is right you may see the master cylinder with it still on the ground. Fingers crossed

 

[the hobbler]

If you lock the steering right round and shine a torch in , if my memory is right you may see the master cylinder with it still on the ground. Fingers crossed

Hi Stu---if you contact me direct ( [email protected] ) I will guide you through the process of replacing the master cylinder and 'slave' cylinders. It is an easy job requiring just a few tools, a hydraulic jack and a 4 vehicle stands (if you are going overhaul ALL the brakes)----you must NEVER work under a car that is "just on a jack"---better to be slow and in one piece, than try to be quick and then try to stick bits of (your) body back on!

 

[Fatcatvera]

It may be worth taking the drums off to see if the salve cylinders are pushing the shoes. When building my car back up with a brand new set of hydraulics I found that the friction mechanism that is intended to hold the shoes out was overcome by the return springs which meant that I had a very long pedal. See my post in this thread:- https://www.fiatforum.com/threads/spongy-brakes.457736/page-2#post-4761330

 

[the hobbler]

It may be worth taking the drums off to see if the salve cylinders are pushing the shoes. When building my car back up with a brand new set of hydraulics I found that the friction mechanism that is intended to hold the shoes out was overcome by the return springs which meant that I had a very long pedal. See my post in this thread:- https://www.fiatforum.com/threads/spongy-brakes.457736/page-2#post-4761330

The 'pattern' shoe-return springs tend to be about 4-5mm too SHORT, and therefore exert too much 'return' pressure when extended (when you operate the brakes).The answer is whenever possible to re-use the original springs. If that is not possible, the new springs then need to be extended to match the length of the "Fiat original" springs.This 'fault' along with the fact that I am convinced that the friction-discs on the brake shoes are not as "grippy" as the original is what causes problems when trying to get a good brake pedal. I have also heard from a VERY good source that there have been problems with the quality of some of the new 'pattern' master cylinders---they don't work!