Citroen Dispatch - Soft Breaks when engine running

[iBoughtACheapVan]

Hi All,

Hope you can help me; As you can tell from my username, I have just bought a cheap van, which I am trying to make more reliable as time goes on. Its a Citroen Dispatch 1.6Hdi.

I'm having a bit of trouble with the brakes on it.

So far:
- New front discs and pads
- New rear shoes, but not new drums.
- Not replaced self adjusters at rear yet.
- Both rear wheel cylinders replaced (one was weeping from piston, and other have corroded nipple).
- Forced blead (spare tyre method, rather than vacuum) on all callipers - This horrid brown liquid came out and gleaming new went it; not sure it has had the fluid changed bin a while...
- Last calliper, pressed the break pedal with engine off, and more air came out.

So, right now:
1) If I pump the foot break 2-3 times with engine off, break pedal firms up.
2) With firm pedal, and then on starting the van, brake pedal goes to the floor.
3) Not road tested yet, as going to force flush it again tonight.

Any ideas what could be wrong please?

Could it be my master cylinder or vacuum pump, and if so, how would I test as to which one is broken / used outside of its normal range.

All and any advice, guidance and assistance most welcomed!

James

[Stewart(oily)]

Have the rear drums adjusted themselves yet? that can cause a brake that pumps up, and you might still have air in there, I have had air in the ABS block that took some shifting.

[Gibbo2286]

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