Driving to work in the locost this morning, ah! the pleasures of sunny day, when I braked hard at a roundabout and the brakes stayed on had to drop down to 1st and it only just got me off the roundabout and into a layby. couldn't shift it tried to reverse but the brakes stayed firmly on. The pedal had returned to the fully off position tried pumping it
(pedal was rock hard) no change. took top off master cylinder in case air lock was stopping fluid returning.
The car has standard cortina calipers and escort drums single escort master cylinder all basic ( and new) stuff.

contemplated what to do rang work etc and after 20 mins I could push it just, after 30 drove away without problem. Car has done about 900 miles without the problem.

Any ideas? certinately got me stumped.
- Alan

two things spring to mind, probably neither though...

on my van, you have to lift the brake pedal back up to stop braking. just a lack of a spring i guess.

or, someone said that brake fluid expands when hot? so it might be this, except that wouldnt explain why it just started. does explain why a wait would cure it though.

Just a thought - check that the piston is allowed to return to the position where it uncovers the hole into the reservoir.

check to make sure your pedal is still returning and also that the pushrod to the cylinder is dead in line with the master as this can also effect the return on the m/c, as i found out the hard way.

Also is it the first time you have driven it for a while, it could be that the calipers have seized or the rear adjustors have overadjuster or seized, happen to a freind on his first trip out for a while.

[Edited on 23/4/04 by Kitlooney1000]

It would raise the level in the master cylinder reservoir like when you put new pads in. Have you got a return spring as the one in the cylinder isn't always strong enough to return the pedal. You might need to space your M/C out or shorten your pushrod a bit.

As above.You need to be sure the PISTON is returning,not just the pedal and link rod.Possible seal in m/c sticking at resi' inlet.You'd of be able to move it after a while because the hydrolic pressure would of eased off,that is eased it's way back past the problem.No size 10's resting on it.Other that striping and inspecting the master cylinder(It's the only part which can force on ALL 4 corners) I can't think of anything else.