Posted by Cees Willig on December 27, 1999 at 08:09:52:

In Reply to: Excessive brake pedal travel posted by Rob Franks on December 25, 1999 at 13:56:46:

Hi,
The original 110 features brake drums at rear axle, these require manual adjustment. Keep some travel especially in winter, better for the brake cil. cups (we adjust in summer prior to holiday tow workout). Brake drums require manual adjustment if pedal travel as much as you described.

Leaking cups at brake master can be verified by keeping foot on brake, e.g. at waiting before traffic light. If it keeps sinking than message is clear (initial sinking because of servo, hence prolonged time of, say, half minute). However, our brake master cilinder was replaced at vehicle age 12 years (precautionary measure, was not yet leaking/ pedal sinking), brake servo (touchwood) is still original (ex 1983, we have the large 'pancake' model).
Rear brake drum cilinders are notorious, changed about every 4 to 5 years. Like all LR hydraulics sensitive to use of correct glycol brake fluid; use original parts otherwise mission life even shorter.

Have you checked that brake cilinders travel easily? (at yearly maintenance remove pads and verify/ clean cilinder surface; we renew pads before winter to minimise cilinders' exposure to salt. However, the front pads already done 120 000 km (long distance drives & diesel engine braking mostly) and still more than 6 mm left, so salt exposure might become a bit of problem; front Lockheed disks are still original at 370 000+ km and again passed last years MOT/ APK/ compulsory vehicle check).

For disk brakes it is good ro regularly apply brakes firmly, provides more even wear of disk, minimises build up of rust area circles as well as minimises risk of uneven disk surface. Short firm braking (making brake contact gently and then quickly build up pressure) is best, minimises heat build up, enhances cooling and keeps discs, cups & pads in best shape; when passengers on board I adapt to more smooth style temporarily).

Uneven disk surfaces often initiated by smooth low pressure braking (this style is really wearing pads! and hardening cups due to heat exposure), allows to move pads in systems' Eigen frequencies creating wobbles on surface. Also after firm prolonged braking: avoid at standing still (e.g. traffic light) to keep pads pressed at same spot on disks too long, release and move a bit (different cooling of disk also initiates unevenness and, in severe cases, softening of surface area (marked by blue spots)).

Succes + Best Regards
Cees Willig