Symphony brake upgrade?

Ok thanks

SUCCESS, i no longer have to cross my fingers going down a steep hill, brakes much better.
The brake load valve itself was fine it has a rubber cover so it keeps it clean, the rod was free enough but the adjustment at the the other end where it connects to the rod was corroded (the adjustment on mine is 2 metal plates bolted together which slide when loosened) i cleaned it up and put plenty of WD on and it seems fine, i haven't altered the setting.
I also bled the brakes again, i didn't notice any air come out but they do seem a bit firmer.
I should have really tested the van after after each job so i would have found the cause, i think it might have actualy been a bit of both.

Thanks for all the help.

Dave

Glad you got it sorted

Frank

Great diagnostics work. Now you've done all that I may have look at mine tomorrow.... just in case!

boxerman wrote:Hi Dave,
They are solid discs on mine. I was about to order some Mintex discs & pads off Ebay but I just saw Matchlessman's post and thought that he might know of a better option.

Frank

Apologies, not very clear in my post.

There are a number of manufacturers / suppliers of pads which fit;

Original manufacturer, Ferodo, Mintex, .. etc. they will have (slightly) different characteristics as they come out of different factories and use different manufacturers compounds. 

Your local friendly Motor Factors probably have anecdotal evidence of the differences and can advise which would best suit your requirements. 

Unfortunately brake performance and disc life all went down the pan when the took away the asbestos. Hey ho; live long and crash more..

matchlessman wrote:

Your local friendly Motor Factors probably have anecdotal evidence of the differences and can advise which would best suit your requirements. 

Gave up waiting for your response and fitted the Mintex ones, a name I remember from way back.

Unfortunately brake performance and disc life all went down the pan when the took away the asbestos. Hey ho; live long and crash more..

Asbestos dust is terrible stuff, tiny fibres which, once in the lungs will never come out. You would prefer garage mechanics and the people involved in the production of these items to risk contracting asbestosis just to give you slightly better brakes?

Frank

Apologies again for my tardiness. The curse of work.... Mintex were always reckoned to be pretty good.

Asbestos is indeed nasty to humans, But great for brakes.

I used to work for a train builder in Derby who refurbished carriages. The older ones were insulated with asbestos. There were piles of it in the sheds and it was often used for snowball fights. Different times...

Apologies again for my tardiness. The curse of work.... Mintex were always reckoned to be pretty good.

Asbestos is indeed nasty to humans, But great for brakes.

I used to work for a train builder in Derby who refurbished carriages. The older ones were insulated with asbestos. There were piles of it in the sheds and it was often used for snowball fights. Different times...