Hi, I've got a Ford Cargo 0813 horse lorry. We had to charge the battery today as hadn't used it for a while, then I took it out only to find the air brakes weren't working very well (very scarey at a round about!!) The pressure seems to be going up too high (to around 8 instead of 5/6ish) and then when I stopped and put the 'hand brake' on I couldn't move when releasing the hand brake untill I had pumped the brakes a few times. Similarly when moving, if I pumped the brakes which reduced the air pressure to 5 then the brakes worked for a bit, until the pressure built up again. Any ideas? any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

pendragon, July 2012

the air pressure should be at 8 ats normal operation so its a problem in your main brake cylinder. if the brakes stick on it means the fluid is not returning and holding the brakes on, this applies to air over hydraulic brake systems. most truck brake systems run on 7.5 - 8 ats pressure for safety of air supply

paul dwyer, July 2012