Brake proportioning valve - help!

[r5gordini]

Hi All,

Right - now it's time for me to ask a tech question...

The brake proportioning/balance valve on my Gordini Turbo is leaking slightly. I'm concerned the car won't pass its MOT.

I do have spare valves, but they're "quality unknown".

First question: It's my understanding that these valves are no longer available from Renault. Is that true?

Second question: Can these valves be reconditioned? Has anyone had this done?

Thirdly: Has anyone fitted a generic, manually adjustable valve? If so, which one did you fit? How easy was it to fit? What's it like to live with?

Thanks all,

Andrew

 

[Andy Hemper]

Hi,

I had a problem with mine when it came to its first MOT - the rear bakes were just under minimum spec on the rollers. After taking advice from a more knowledgeable friend, I was advised to remove the valve and replace it with a standard T-piece, after making good the brake lines.

Net result is I got my MOT cert and working brakes.

You could look at fitting a G-valve from a various Fords (Fiesta, Escort...) from the 80's-'90's era. They don't rely on any load sensing from the rear axle, rather they react from the deceleration from the vehicle. If you would this route, then the valve needs to be mounted 26 degrees from the horizontal for them to work. Cheap and readily available. More info available if interested.

 

[ren5]

hi andrew

No it will not pass an mot

As for the condition of the spare ones so long as the plunger isnt seized and the external seal looks ok, it should be fine. Seizing is the usual problem, it is quite rare that they leak.

Be aware that if the seal completely lets go its the same as losing a breakpipe, ie no brakes.

I havent known of rebuild kits for any compensator valves, they are usually quite cheap but I dont know if Renault still do them the valves.

As for fitting the valve, obviously first bleed the brakes after fitting the valve, with the car unloaded and on the ground slide under and wind up the linkage bolt to take up the slack but not so it pulls on the valve arm.

In my opinion i wouldnt fit a manual valve as you could have it set up for you and 1 passenger, then if you have a couple of passengers in the back you would then have to readjust it, other wise you will not have enough braking on the rear causing the front to dive. If it was adjusted for a load and you used it unloaded it will cause the rear wheels to lock under braking. May be a good idea for a track car.

If you like i can get a price fron my supplier for a new one as it will not be unique to the gordini and was probably fitted to later cars so should still be available, and i get a good price as im in the trade.

hope this is of some help
thanks chris (ren5)

 

[phildini]

Andrew

i think you can still get them, depends how helpful the guy at the renault parts counter is. Renault always try to find an alternative that will suit if they can, they did that with my heater matrix.

A friend of mine was running a generic adjustable on a atmo and it seem to do the job.

 

[r5gordini]

Hi All,

Thanks for your replies. I've phoned my friendly parts dealer, but they say it's no longer available...

I'm going to look in my stash of 2nd hand parts to see if any of the old valves I have look any good. I suspect some of them may be siezed.

I think (but I'm not 100% sure) that different valves were fitted to different models, and I think they're all unavailable. I sold a valve to an R5 L owner little while ago.

Maybe I'm fussy, but I would really prefer to fit a new or reconditioned valve. I don't fancy the hassle of fitting a valve only to find it's just as bad. I also don't know whether to trust an "old" valve...

Andy - do you have any more info on the valve fitted to the Fords? I had difficulty finding anything when I did a search on the web...

Thanks all,

Andrew

 

[r5gordini]

More on this subject:

I checked out the valve on my car again, and got my wife to stamp on the brakes while I watched for signs of leakage. I couldn't see any, so I don't know what's going on. I cleaned the exterior of the valve, and will keep an eye on it over the next few weeks or so.

I also rescued a valve from a scrap Gordini Turbo. It was siezed, but I managed to free it off by liberally spraying the actuating arm with WD40 and moving it back and forth. The valve may or may not be any good, but at least I now have a spare to try.

Anybody else have any idea where we might be able to get these valves reconditioned?

Thanks,

Andrew