Triumph Repair: clutch/brake, Spitfire, 1500

Question
I was going to take my 77 1500 out for a runabout after sitting this winter for two months. Clutch won't engage to put car in gear and coincidentally brake pedal won't depress at all? One sloppy one tight? Any ideas? All fluid levels are good. Brake hoses 6 months old. Maybe cylinders?
Thanks

Answer
Darren,

That is quite the coincidence.  I'm guessing everything worked fine when parked 2 months ago?

One failure or the other would just suggest checking the individual systems.  Since both have failed it's worth taking an extra step or two.

If you can, pry back the rubber covers in the engine bay that cover where the clutch and brake pedal linkages connect to the master cylinders.   Have a friend work the pedals and verify that the linkages seem to be connected properly and aren't either disconnected (clutch) or jammed (brake).

If everything looks good with the linkages then it's time to dig into the hydraulics.

Is there any resistance on the clutch pedal?  If it's a bit soft but there's resistance when you get near the floor then it's probably time to bleed the clutch system.  Not a tough job but it does mean pulling the trans tunnel.

And for the brakes, you might try hooking up the bleeder tube to one of the front caliper bleed nipples and crack open the nipple.  See if the brake pedal will move then.  If not, then it's probably time to pull the brake master and open it up.


Cheers,

Jim