Weak brakes...

[AltonD]

Had a similar issue. Air in the lines. Try one of these. I hooked up a line from the top of the reservoir and just let the bleeder go till I had good overflow from each side. Also, to remove excess fluid from the reservoir, I use a turkey injector syringe from the aviation department at Winn Dixie.

As a added benefit, it sure makes bleeding brakes easy.

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catal...leedertank.php

[David Paule]

Have you checked the brake and cylinder part numbers? Maybe somehow you have the wrong brake or cylinder.

Dave

[ccsmith51]

Originally Posted by David Paule

Have you checked the brake and cylinder part numbers? Maybe somehow you have the wrong brake or cylinder.

Dave

I am not sure what that means. Can you elaborate? The wheel brake assemblies are Cleveland. I don't know what the cylinders are in the pedals, but they are gold.

[sblack]

On my 4 project I noticed that the mounting bracket for the brake assembly, which is a steel disk with 4 holes, was not welded on to its mounting tube properly. It is crooked. So the pads will not be parallel to the disc. I am going to fix that before I assemble the landing gear. I think that this will substantially reduce the contact area and therefore the stopping power.

Could that be your problem? Just a hare brained theory, but you posted looking for ideas and one never knows.

[ccsmith51]

Originally Posted by sblack

On my 4 project I noticed that the mounting bracket for the brake assembly, which is a steel disk with 4 holes, was not welded on to its mounting tube properly. It is crooked. So the pads will not be parallel to the disc. I am going to fix that before I assemble the landing gear. I think that this will substantially reduce the contact area and therefore the stopping power.

Could that be your problem? Just a hare brained theory, but you posted looking for ideas and one never knows.

I believe that is OK. When I put everything back together yesterday I made sure everything moved in and out freely and that the pads appeared to be parallel to the discs.

[ccsmith51]

Originally Posted by AltonD

Had a similar issue. Air in the lines. Try one of these. I hooked up a line from the top of the reservoir and just let the bleeder go till I had good overflow from each side. Also, to remove excess fluid from the reservoir, I use a turkey injector syringe from the aviation department at Winn Dixie.

As a added benefit, it sure makes bleeding brakes easy.

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catal...leedertank.php

My A&P friend and I spent a lot of time bleeding the brakes and think that we got all of the air out. The pedals feel firm and we saw no bubbles.

I have never heard that the reservoir could be too full. Can you elaborate on that?

[AltonD]

Too full is not an issue. Other than when it heats up and overflows and makes a mess.

[sblack]

How about the pedal geometry relative to the cylinder? Does the pedal provide the proper leverage? Brakes are pretty simple. If the pad is good and the disc is good then they aren't being pushed together hard enough. Either you aren't putting enough pressure into the system because the cylinder isn't being pressed hard enough (geometry?, weak feet?) or there are leaks somewhere. Or there is not enough travel to squeeze the pads tight! Can't think of much else.

[wirejock]

Something sounds wrong. If you're pressing hard on the pedals, that hydraulic pressure is being blocked somewhere. I've seen debris get in lines but usually it shows up as pulling to one side. Also seen pistons get stuck. If it's the same both pilot and co-pilot then the problem has to be downstream. Can't be air. Usually air feels like a soft pedal. If they are new pads and not bed properly, that would be a symptom. Same of they were covered in oil. Keep looking.

[AltonD]

Larry brings up a good point. Any chance there is a parking brake installed that is not fully releasing? Since you are not the builder, if installed, it is between the calipers and each master cylinder as a single unit.