Hello, new owner of a 4Age striker.
Recently bought my striker without an MOT, bloke warned me the handbrake was useless and the brakes were not very good, but everything else looks fine
on it and appears well put together.
Had it in for a MOT and it passed the brake test but only just, the handbrake I had got working to a reasonable state and that passed as well.
Put some tax on it and given it a decent run around to test everything properly and get used to having a non assisted brakes, he was right the brakes
are pretty poor, even scrubbed in and warmed up they have no real bite, wooden is best description
The effort required is more than I can give and I'm no weakling, so today ive given everything a good look at to see if I can find the
problem.
Brakes system is,
Ford master cylinder
Pedal with a 4:1 action, 200mm / 50mm to centre of pivot bar
4 Pot wilwood calipers, 34mm pistons in as new condition, free pistons
Wilwood pads 75mm x 42mm approx
220mm x 9mm discs drilled & grooved
Rears are 2 pot hi spec items with the handbrake lever, and are free, discs look a bit glazed, didn't measure these.
So the front at least looks like it should work well, but it doesn't.
I'm open to any suggestions but I'm looking at the master cylinder now.
I'm guessing its a sierra item, but i cant get a picture up because photobucket wont allow it any more, so ill describe it.
Its got 3 ports, (looking at front)
2 on the left side and one out the bottom front.
the front left port does the brake switch.
The reservoir is slanted atop the cylinder
Its 180mm long and has the number 383061 cast on the right side.
Ive not stripped anything yet to measure the piston in the master cylinder
Open to suggestions
Cheers, Mart
Striker build manual suggests it is a lhd Sierra item.
http://www.striker-cars.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/StrikerManual.pdf
Thanks, a useful link.
They use sierra master cylinder and brake calipers.
Mine must have upgraded calipers with the original master cylinder.
Ill do some more research.
Iirc the Sierra was a 15/16" master cylinder, may be worth dropping this to a 3/4" for more travel 4:1 is also quite high, iirc old ford had
5:1 again more travel, less effort. I am putting in a Suzuki sj410 non servo master cylinder into my Anglia, looks an almost direct replacement (other
than the bolt holes) for the escort mk1/2 one and is 3/4". A lot cheaper than old escort ones as well. May need some pipework sorting in your
case as it only has two outlets (front/rear). BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER SUZUKI SJ413 SJ410 SAMURAI GYPSY NEW BRAND
quote:
Originally posted by Ugg10
Iirc the Sierra was a 15/16" master cylinder, may be worth dropping this to a 3/4" for more travel 4:1 is also quite high, iirc old ford had 5:1 again more travel, less effort. I am putting in a Suzuki sj410 non servo master cylinder into my Anglia, looks an almost direct replacement (other than the bolt holes) for the escort mk1/2 one and is 3/4". A lot cheaper than old escort ones as well. May need some pipework sorting in your case as it only has two outlets (front/rear). BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER SUZUKI SJ413 SJ410 SAMURAI GYPSY NEW BRAND
This may be useful, scroll down to the bottom for quick problem solving.
http://www.super7thheaven.co.uk/blog/size-master-cylinder/
I fitted a smaller bore Fiesta master cylinder on mine. To be honest, because I had played around with the ratios, and had to move the pivot up after
changing from the Sierra MC, I think the Sierra is OK with the correct, 6 to 1, ratio.
You can see in this photo the holes in the pedal.
Description
Thanks for replies.
Btw, do you know what year the fiesta cylinder is from.
Just been staring at it again and looking at the rear brakes they are glazed, as in been rusted then lightly used, and over a period of time they have
developed a shiny rusty surface if you know what I mean, I knew they weren't great anyway but paid them no mind as the fronts do the bulk of the
braking.
The fronts must have had the same kind of treatment, although the discs look ok I'm going to replace discs and pads all round and then if
I'm no better I'm going down the master cylinder route.
Spoke to the Raw striker north chap today, very helpful man even though he was busy,
He just confirmed what I thought I already knew the master cylinder is wrong size.
I'm going to get a fiesta one as the reservoir is supposed to fit straight in ?
Will the push arm fit from the sierra or will I need to order one of those as well ?
Spotted this on ebay Genuine Delphi Brake Master Cylinder LM36199
Looks promising if a little pricey
Does this look like the part I need ?
Bad news is this m/c wont clear the steering column.
ill keep looking..