Excessive brake pedal travel

[maestro vans]

There is a fair bit of travel before the brakes work. Any suggestions? Its not air in the break lines..Any other suggestions greatly received

thanks

maestro vans

[E_T_V]

Rear self adjusters aren't working. To check press the footbrake, then apply the handbrake. Then release and apply the footbrake again. If the pedal feel is much better then the self adjusters need some attention.

[Chris Y]

Agreed.

[maestro vans]

Have disassembled rear brake drums and cleaned up the adjuster mechansisms. Saw a bit of fluid behind the rubber seal on the brake pistons so have replaced these and bled the system. I know the self adjusters are working as upon reassembly could here the ratchet clicking as the shoes opened up on the drums.
Unfortunately there still is a lot of travel on the pedal. Do you think its worth checking or changing the rear flexible hoses? Any other suggestions greatly received

maestro vans

[E_T_V]

Is the load sense valve still connected up properly? If not then this increases the brake travel too.

Does applying the handbrake with the foot brake pressed not then solve the pedal travel? If not then you have an issue elsewhere. If it does then the self adjusters may need more work.

The maestro does have a fair amount of pedal travel compared to modern cars so if you aren't used to it you may think it is wrong whereas it is perfectly normal.

However if it is worse than most maestros then the two most likely causes are air in the system (due to the leaking rear cylinders), or degraded flexi hoses. When I replaced them all on my old van I noticed a great improvement in the pedal travel, however it was a sod to bleed and needed vacuum bleeding to get the air out (the cars are a lot easier to bleed than the vans at the back).

[tezza SG1]

I had the same sort of prob with E300 so i changed the brakefluid, it seemed to make it a lot better.

I dont know how long the fluid had been in my car though.