Rear Brake problems

Simon H · Unread post by **Simon H** » 04 May 2004, 21:13

Hello All
I am new to this forum. I have owned my ZX1.4 for 3 years, it has done 55K & is pretty reliable. My car has been standing for 7 days. Today I discovered that the handbrake felt 'different' & after a bit of investigation that the n/s rear brake was seized on. I have attempted to free it off by rocking the car & trying to drive off in the first instance (hopefully no damage done)! The handbrake alternates between being slack & tight. The brakes feel weird at the pedal too. I replaced the front discs/pads & fluid 20K miles ago. Any ideas? I don't mind getting my hands dirty but am more experienced at working on motorbikes than cars. Looking forward to suggestions!!
Thanks
Simon H
96 ZX1.4i
Suzuki 600S Bandit
MZ250/1
MZTS125

bxbodger · Unread post by **bxbodger** » 04 May 2004, 21:57

It sounds like something is broken, possibly the self adjusting mechanism on the shoes; whatever it is, you are going to have to take the drum off and look. As it only appears to affect one side you should at least have something to compare it to on the other side.
Anyway, why are you worrying about brakes? With 2 MZ's you should be used to using your feet to stop!!!!

Simon H · Unread post by **Simon H** » 06 May 2004, 20:20

Thanks for that! MZ's do have bad front brakes! Back to Citroens I removed the drum & discovered that the rear shoe material had come away from the shoe itself on one side & was jamming up against the drum. Not bad for 56K though I suppose. By the way both my MZ's were purchased, slightly dissmantled & transported in the back of my trusty ZX, rear seat removed! These cars are ace, my dad had one of the original '91 cars from new: a 1.4 Advantage, which compared to my '96 catalysed 1.4i went more like a 1.6 - a better car, should have bought it off him!
Simon H
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Simon H

Hello All
I am new to this forum. I have owned my ZX1.4 for 3 years, it has done 55K & is pretty reliable. My car has been standing for 7 days. Today I discovered that the handbrake felt 'different' & after a bit of investigation that the n/s rear brake was seized on. I have attempted to free it off by rocking the car & trying to drive off in the first instance (hopefully no damage done)! The handbrake alternates between being slack & tight. The brakes feel weird at the pedal too. I replaced the front discs/pads & fluid 20K miles ago. Any ideas? I don't mind getting my hands dirty but am more experienced at working on motorbikes than cars. Looking forward to suggestions!!
Thanks
Simon H
96 ZX1.4i
Suzuki 600S Bandit
MZ250/1
MZTS125
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

arry_b · Unread post by **arry_b** » 06 May 2004, 20:44

Hi Simon, I see the MZ / ZX bug's got you too (see my sig).
I've just replaced the rear brakes on my ZX last month. the only problem I encountered was that my self adjusters needed encouraging to begin self adjusting after the shoes were replaced.
You can do this by removing the rear wheel and turning the adjuster with a thin screwdriver through one of the wheel bolt holes.

bxbodger · Unread post by **bxbodger** » 06 May 2004, 21:12

Glad its sorted.
Going off at a tangent but still involving brakes, I remember years ago a commom MZ conversion was to fit a Suzuki T.L.S. drum brake; I can't remember which Suzuki it was from, though; I know it looked original but worked about a million times better though....

tomsheppard · Unread post by **tomsheppard** » 06 May 2004, 21:33

Honda CB175 I seem to remember. The best stopping mod was to replace the Pneumant tyre on the front!

Simon H · Unread post by **Simon H** » 08 May 2004, 17:22

Thanks for that tip, is there such a thing as ZX cred yet?! I now have all the bits to do the job (inc. 2 new cylinders). Just waiting for a dry day now, good job I don't need the car for commuting!
Regards
Simon H
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by arry_b

Hi Simon, I see the MZ / ZX bug's got you too (see my sig).
I've just replaced the rear brakes on my ZX last month. the only problem I encountered was that my self adjusters needed encouraging to begin self adjusting after the shoes were replaced.
You can do this by removing the rear wheel and turning the adjuster with a thin screwdriver through one of the wheel bolt holes.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">