Welcome to the Land Rover Forums - Land Rover Enthusiast Forum.
If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above.
You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed.
To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
Need help! Unfreezing brake system in 89 Range Rover.
I gather that by sheer lack of use and or storage, the brake system can freeze up over time. What I need to know is how to address the problem. Is repair a matter of flushing and bleeding the brake system? Or does it require replacing all brake lines, calipers, disk/drum rotors, pads and the brake master cylinder?
Found a decent 89 Range Rover for sale. It's well within my budget and has a professional engine rebuild as well as many other new parts and repairs. Just needs new battery and the brakes are frozen. I would like to buy the rig but not if fixing the brake system is gonna cost to much. Please help.
I think what he is referring to is just the brakes locked up from sitting a while. I specialize in restoring cars and with getting "barn finds" up and running, frozen brakes is one of the most common issues. It doesn't have anything to do with the lines or modulators (although they can be bad from sitting too.) There are two things that can cause your brakes to lock up. The first and most common (98% of the time) is that the pad/shoes rusts and corrodes to the rotor/drum. The second and least likely is that the caliper/wheel cylinder seizes up. Depending on the climate that you are in and how long the truck has been sitting you may be able to free them up by driving it a bit or towing it slowly down the road. If you can, spray the rotors and pads with WD40 or PB Blaster the day before. It it kill your pads but they probably already need changing anyway. **Note, only do this if you are towing or trailering the Rover, DO NOT drive it after spraying them. You can also pull the wheels and remove the pads. You will probably need a heavy dead blow hammer to get them off. Once you free them up you should be good to go. This method takes the most time but also allows you to drive it home when you are done. Let me know if you have any issues. I have run into this on dozens of vehicles from motorcycles to semi trucks.
__________________
Thanks,
Chris
1997 4.6 HSE Vitesse Ferrari Red 143k
1998 Volvo XC70 162k
2001 Audi A4 Quattro 131k
I would do what Krazz has suggested, especially if it has sat for awhile. One thing that likes to fail on these rigs is the accumulator. We need to know a little bit more about the symptoms. When you say "seized" do you mean no brake power at all, a hard pedal, a soft pedal, etc?
__________________
A Land Rover doesn't leak! It marks its territory.
What do Jaguars and possums have in common? Both play dead at home and get killed on the road.
1996 Range Rover 4.0SE 167k Miles
1998 Jaguar XJ8 107k Miles
2003 Land Rover Discovery 114k Miles
2005 Jaguar XJR 52k Miles
Work Completed:
Head Gaskets ----> RAVE IS A MUST
Drive shaft rebuilt ---> nightmare
Starter ---> easy
Water pump/hoses ---> easy
Bypassed throttle body heater plate ---> super easy and cheap
02's ---> easy
Headliner ---> more time consuming than anything
Work Completed:
Head Gaskets ----> RAVE IS A MUST
Drive shaft rebuilt ---> nightmare
Starter ---> easy
Water pump/hoses ---> easy
Bypassed throttle body heater plate ---> super easy and cheap
02's ---> easy
Headliner ---> more time consuming than anything
Need help! Unfreezing brake system in 89 Range Rover.
