brake problems...

[Dave]

G'day all!

I've recently bought an EH wagon with an HR disc brake front end that hasnt been driven much in the last 10 years (only 5000 miles since 94), and as far as i know has been sitting idle for at least 2 years.

I'm keen to have a go a getting the brakes right myself, but know very little about any type of brakes!!

Could anyone give me a plan of how to go about it and where to start...the problems are:

 - they are unassisted (but i am ordering a reco VH40 from melbourne)...
 - the pedal is rock hard with only a few mm movement.
 - the front pads touch the disc quite firmly without the brakes applied
- there is a little bit of corrosion where the pads have been touching for a long time

i havent driven it much (no rego), but the brakes do work to a certain degree, but grab and lockup - you need excessive pressure to brake.

i know i should get the calipers scathed back and get new shoes for the back drums and new friction pads...but in what order and what else?

does this sound like a master cylider problem or corrosion...?

also help on what type of pads work best (bendix etc) would be great.

thank you in advance
Dave

[mcl1959]

Dave, new rear cylinders, front caliper overhaul and master cylinder rebuild will be first on your list.
Replace all linings and pads next
machine drums and rotors, making sure they are not undersize, otherwise they will have to be replaced.

little pedal movement and locking wheels are classic signs of gummed up wheel cylinders.

Regards  Ken

[fc4kiwi]

Dave ,
my advice is the same as Kens RECON everything your brakes and steering are the most important things to be done on a car that has been sitting for a while.
workshop manuals will show you how to do it all
cheers
 Tony