No braking effort to n/s rear brake?

Put the car in for mot yesterday and when he tested the brakes he said there was no braking effort at all to the n/s rear brake. He's checked all the lines and flexi's and found no leaks, checked the cylinder inside the drum and thats fine, he's going to try a new master cylinder tomorrow says it could be that.

Anyone had anything like this and what was the problem? Its a '87 cabriolet.

Thanks ian

Whats the offside front like?

Also……could try bleeding the brakes first, before fitting a new master cylinder. Doesn't sound like a MC fault to me.

The other three were fine, I changed the fluid the other week but they all bled fine, i might give him a ring to check to see if there is no air in the line or summat!

How much is a new mc?

How was the handbrake readings too? This will tell you if its a friction or hydraulic issue. It could be friction (drum or pads jammed, or not assembled correctly, or contaminated) or (assuming the lines have no kinks in them, etc) could be a duff brake compensator.

I dont know what exact reading was but the handbrake would lock on with only one click, i think if you tried to go for two clicks the cables would snap. Thats why i did'nt suspect there would be any problems with the brakes! Is the brake compensator the part that gives you more braking to the rear when you have extra weight in? I've just fitted coilovers, i doubt that will matter tho

Get the brakes tested on a braking rolling road, don't go by "how many clicks" - after all, could be seized mechanism!

You need to adjust the brake compensator after lowering(/raising) the car.

what car is this on? if its a GTI then you will need to reset the brake compensator as that will think the cars full…but that should put more brakes on.

if the hand brake is stupidly tight id be looking at a sticking drum mech, and not anything fluid related  :wink:

Cheers! well i'll see what he says tomorrow! i'm guessing the handbrake is fine because the only thing its failed on is the rear foot brake.

Its an '87 1.6 cabriolet! Its not a gti, Its a gl (i think)

iId have hoped they have checked all the mech inside the drum when they checked the brake cylinder tho but you never know..

Is the car new to you? How often has it been serviced? And did they check and clean the brakes, as you are supposed to do, at each service (every 6 months)? I'm thinking, something's seized but the handbrake has either scraped thru the MoT, or that part is okay but the wheel cylinder - pads part is seized.

I've had the car about a month, before that it had been sitting in a garage for 8 month (well thats when the last tax ran out) When i got it i serviced the engine and changed front discs, pads and fluid! The fluid that came out was a green/black colour!

yeah but did you take the rear drums off, take a look and clean it up in there?

No ive never looked inside, i assumed everything was fine when i felt the handbrake and the the drums looked pretty new themselves! Wish i'd had a look now, had a 100 other jobs to do on it.

I'll see what they come back with tomorrow!

Cars fixed. They have fitted a new master cylinder. Seems to be that at fault!