New South American 1979 FJ40 owner - Advice

[Green Bean]

^^ What he said. It is supposed to be a closed system. So unless fluid is leaking out someplace, that would suggest to me that it is just a matter of either too much trapped air and/or the shoes are not adjusted correctly. Both of which are easy to remedy and would have you back on the road in hours instead of possibly weeks.

 

[CLASSICclown76]

Can you see if you can get a receipt or part number for the brake master cylinder from the PO so you can see exactly what he installed? It is super common for less-educated owners of Non-US 40's to just buy a brake master from a common parts source for a "1979 Land Cruiser" not realizing if it is for the disc brake version it won't have the residual valve in the front circuit. In which case the front shoes will stay against the drum. I've had the exact situation come through my shop several times. Usually from other shops who couldn't figure it out, too.

I’ll ask, very helpful

 

[CLASSICclown76]

I’ll ask, very helpful

Matt, thanks for the recommendation. I reached out to the PO and here is the exact reply for yours, and everyone’s SA (Situational Awareness)

****************
Hope this helps. These are the ones i bought (picture attached). Remember, I was still having problems bleeding the brakes with the old master cylinder. As i mentioned, After the wheel cylinders/brake pads replacement , i could not get the brakes to work. So thats when i replaced the master cylinder and booster.

 

[CLASSICclown76]

I’ll ask, very helpful

CruiserMatt, I forgot to ask when I did my last post with a picture of the part bought. How do you tell the difference between a drum break master cylinder for 1979 and a disc brake?

I haven’t found a single website that differentiates in the language; they look the same.

Thanks, Hunter

 

[45Dougal]

As Charlie said I'd start by adjusting the drums, except from your last post you said that the cylinders had been replaced and this made it hard to bleed them...

In this case I'd think he put the cylinders on upside down and made them impossible to bleed. The nipples should be upwards.
Otherwise he maybe backed off the adjusters to get the drum free and forgot to tighten one back up?

Adjusting rusty drums is a miserable job to start with, so good luck with that - hopefully they're all clean, new, and greased

You can put a clamp on the soft lines to isolate the problem if that helps. Just be careful.

Doesn't look like you have your brake pressure switches connected on the master - also worth fixing while you're about it.

Welcome to the club.

 

[cruisermatt]

Yep, that is showing as the disc/drum MC. The correct one will look the same externally, the difference is internal. I should have the correct master cylinder in stock and if I don’t, Cruiser Outfitters does.

I can’t promise that is your entire problem, but it is certainly a major contributor. The booster could also be installed incorrectly (pushrod adjustment), cylinders could be installed incorrectly, shoes not adjusted properly