Oily Brakes

[Edd]

Hi All,
Rear brakes failed MOT yesterday, on stripping down they appear to be coated in oil. Striker has been stood for 18 months but unclear currently whether ild is diff oil (live axle BTW) or brake fluid. I haven't been leaking brake fluid though so am assuming it's diff oil! Has anyone heard fo diff oil leaking out of the driveshafts before or is that not really possible. Plan to investigate further tomorrow although will saok drums and linkages in petrol and may fit new pads although post MOT as the drum liningd are grooveed so any new pads will need a few hundred miles to bed in!
TIA
Edd.

[adithorp]

It could be either. If it's diff' oil you should be able to smell it. Check under the cylinder dust seals; if it's brake fluid they'll be full of fluid.
Don't soak the shoes in petrol as it'll affect the bonding between the lining and shoe; Get some brake cleaner from motor factors. Once they're soaked they're usually fecked though so I'd just go for new shoes. Even not fully bedded in will give better results than oil/fluid impregnated ones. If the tester knows they're new shoes they usually allow a bit for that.
If it is diff oil you'll need to replace the seals. Also check the diff breather isn't blocked as that can force oil out the seals.

adrian

[Edd]

Where is the diff breather? At the top of the diff?
Should the seals go? I fitted new bearings when built Striker, only 16k miles ago....I know! It was also +10 years ago...
I assume the seals are in the outer bearings near the wheel? Is there an inner bearing and how the hell would you change it!!
Edd.

[adithorp]

There's just one bearing on each side of a live axle. To be honest I can't remember if the seal is in the bearing or the cover plate on an Escort axle. It's a long time since I did one. I'm sure someone else will be along who's got a better memory than me. There should be a breather on top of the diff; again a long time since I did one.

adrian

[petercoll]

I can dig out my Mk2 Escort Haynes manual Edd.

The breather is a plastic pipe thingy on top of the axle tube - can't remember if it is on left or right.

Pete

[Edd]

Hi Pete,
I've got a haynes book of lies....don't think I have a breather hose though! May have a hold which has become blocked......will let you know!
Edd.

[petercoll]

It's not really a hose Edd, more a short plastic pipe shaped thing. It snapped off on my axle as I was building the car.

Pete

[adithorp]

Ok, after speaking to an old retired collegue who is old enough to have seen Escorts come and go, heres the short term fix ...

The seal isn't great anyway and was a common fault to leak (n/s usually because of road camber) and the quick fix is clean out the brakes and rebuild, then lower the diff oil level. Some were run with as little as 1/2 the standard level and were never a problem. With modern oils you should be OK, at least untill you get through the MOT and get time to do it properly.

...and before anybody says it; It's a bodge!

adrian

[Edd]

Cheers Adrian,
Looks like the cylinder was leaking anyway/aswell?, but will modify the seal plates for want of a better word with some pliers, fit new cylinders and pads and should be good to go. Not checked oil level for a few years but will see if there's at least half and leave it at that! I put some slick 50 in a few years ago too so should be ok.
Edd.