mot failed on load sensing valve.

[83coupe]

ok, its only failed on 3 things, the first is this rear brake load sensing valve linkage.. could someone help me out and tell me where it is
 also the down pipe is blowing so im guessing its cracked somewhere as the engine mounts quite worn. I have a spare from an '87 16v( the one without a built in silencer).. will this fit on an 8v or will i need a new one.
finally, the headlights are out of alignment, does any one know how to  set this up by parking in front of a wall?
Ive all day today to do it, and i can have a day off work tommorow if needs be. if anyone can help with any of the 3 things it will be highly appreciated   

[sharpie]

try searching!

there's a bit about the load sensor in the mk2 sub forum (garage-y bit) about adjusting the spring on lowered cars to change the brake bias.

16v exhaust won't fit, different mani iirc.

you could do the headlights on the wall if you get another car with the right alignment, mark it, then do yours 

[rowlers]

how has the brake pressure compensator failed???

Mine is goosed too, but it still passed the MOT!

It is located located just in front of the rear beam (it is attached to it) on the passenger side, has about 6 or so solid brake lines going to coming from it. All is does is adjust the amount of braking to the rear disks when you have passengers or weight in the back.
It is not a specific test of the MOT though - I don't think!?!

Not too sure about the downpipe, but I'm pretty sure the 8v and 16v are different bore sizes??
(depends on what car you have!)

The garage will adjust the headlamps with their machine, can't believe they didn't just fix it to start with TBH!!! A couple of screws on the outside of each lens adjusts it!

best I can do - hope it helps - a bit!

[83coupe]

thanks for the info.
on the fail sheet, its specified as : nearside rear brake load sensing valve linkage seized. I wouldnt have thought that would have been covered in the MOT, but im unsure on what was said as my dad took it in for me. Ive taken the spare sesning valve of my 16v, and ive got the spring set up attached to a jack, so ill stick that on tommorow.
and as for the headlights, the MOT station i usually go to would do that for me, but the golf is just to low to go in there so im having to go to one with a floor level ramp.
as for the exhaust, im hoping if i change the whole system from manifold back, to the one from the 16v it'll go stright through the MOT. as it doesnt blow at all. ill let you know how i get on tommorow. lets hope the  rain holds off.

[Teletom]

Headlamp adjustment:
-Park 10m away from a wall
-mark the centre line (horizontally) of the headlights on the wall
-mark the centre line of the car on the wall
-measure the distances of the centre of the headlights from the car's centre line and mark these on the wall aswell
-adjust until the brightest parts of the light(s) match up to these marks


and also make sure your tyre pressures are ok and theres not an abnormal load in the car before doing this...

[eightvalve]

The brake load sensing valve just needs freed up.  WD40 (in large quantities) and a rubber mallet will fix it in no time.  With the back jacked up and the rear wheels unloaded, it should be free to move by hand.  Soak it in WD40 and then use the mallet (or lever it with a screw driver) and get it moving.  Then more wd40 and keep it moving until it moves freely.  Then it'll pass the mot

[83coupe]

OK i changed the load sensor valve to a free one, and the exhaust is all sorted, but im having trouble bleeding it now. I tiried it the conventional way before trying the pressure kit, but the pedal still goes stright down to the floor. should i bleed it with the car sat flat on the floor.. will this make a difference?
the sooner i sort it the sooner i can book the MOT again, as it wasnt ready intime for the retest last week.

[Gti8valve]

You need to make sure the load sensing valve is in the correct postion to allow full fluid flow to the rear brakes. if you look at the valve you will notice that it has a hole at the bottom(in the casing) and also there is a hole in the lever using a cable tie pull the two together this should enable you to bleed the rear brakes out.

HTH

Matt

[rowlers]

you're not meant to pump the pedal all the way to the floor when bleeding, it destroys a one way vavle in the master cylinder meaning new mc iirc! I bled my brakes with the wheels in the air pumping the pedal NEARLY all the way to the floor. it took 3 attempts though to get them feeling nice!

[83coupe]

ok cheers ill try that. do you know how this holds back the air then? as the fluid is flowing freely through my pipe at a reasonable rate(similar to the front) when its on the nipple. ive been doing it with the car on 4 stands but if i try it now its back on the floor and wheels, shouldnt this set the valve to the correct possition and enable me to bleed it fully, as the cars lowered quite a bit and ive streched the spring slightly as written in that guide. i'll have another shot at it after work tommorow