[TR] No brakes, 64 TR4

Wed Jul 29 13:33:57 MDT 2015

Start with the basics.  Do a visual inspection of all the hard lines and flex lines for leaks.  Check the pedal linkages to the master cylinder (the pin fell out of my clutch pedal on the TR3 and I thought I lost the clutch - quick fix, however).  Try bleeding the brakes.  Check the rear brake adjusters.

Since it is a TR4 you have a single circuit braking system.  If you had some braking you did not have a catastrophic hydraulic failure but you may have minor leaks that my not be immediately apparent but a closer inspection may reveal a problem.

Dave Massey

-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Willoughby <paulwilloughby007 at gmail.com>
To: triumphs <triumphs at autox.team.net>
Sent: Wed, Jul 29, 2015 2:09 pm
Subject: [TR] No brakes, 64 TR4

Haven't driven the TR4 in a few years other than an occasional trip around the block every 6 months or so.  Last weekend I started it and drove it up the hill to the stop sign.  Uh oh, no brakes, (maybe 25% stopping power).  Was able to coast down the hill using the e-brake with a little assist from the pedal.  

When I had started it, the brakes felt firm.  I had pumped them a couple times to make sure they worked.  I might have been a little over zealous and may have felt a pop or a snap on the last pump.  I don't drive the car enough to have a feel for it anymore.  But now the pedal isn't as firm.  

Fluid reservoir was fine, maybe 3/4" low. I rebuilt the master cylinder years ago and changed to silicon fluid.    

Can anyone steer me in the right direction for a diagnosis?  I was thinking broken spring in the master cylinder, but Moss doesn't list one, not even in the rebuild kit, so must not be a common failure.  Could I have pushed the little rubber plungers in the master cylinder past their stop point?  

paulw  

56 TR3  

64 TR4  

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