Brakes lock and overheat - mechanic says it's the clutch...?

[Big Yellow]

Hi all clever people.

I have a 1964 230 SL and I've just had a weird experience. I had it serviced at a garage who do vintage car renovations. The mechanic said to me that the brakes were a little weird, probably need a new Master cylinder. He also said my clutch needed replacing... But he said it was not urgent... When I drove home the brakes started to make noise, and locked up, getting very hot and smoky. I stopped and called the guy who sent a tow truck. When he arrived the brakes had cooled down and unlocked, and when the mechanic looked at the car the next day, he said the clutch needed replacing. He claims there is a phenomena where problems with the clutch can make the brakes lock... I can't understand how that can happen, and would be curious if anyone ever heard about something similar...

Thanks,

BY

[Benz Dr.]

Uh............get a real mechanic.

[Kevkeller]

I’d definitely have him explain that one.

[teahead]

brakes were a "little weird"?  Is that a technical term?

How were they when you brought it in? 

Usually if your brakes sink to the floor, that's when you need a new master cylinder.

Brakes locking up...you need to rebuild that caliper(s) that's locking up.

This "mechanic" sounds like he flunked out of the 8th grade.

And why do you need a new clutch?  Does it slip?  Go up a steep hill and floor it (the gas that is).  Does it slip?

Don't spend anymore money at this place.

[MikeSimon]

Brakes can lock up when the bleed hole in the master cylinder is clogged. The circuit is not able to release pressure properly.

[Benz Dr.]

It might be as simple as turning a wrench. Try adjusting the eccentric bolt on the push pin at the back of the brake booster. Normally, the small notch on the head of the bolt points towards the firewall (3 o'clock position ) but some only work straight up ( 12 o'clock position ) or less. This eccentric is for adjusting the free play on the brake pedal but if set too tightly can cause the brakes to lock up. As the brakes drag they produce heat, which is transferred to the brake fluid, which expands and eventually you won't be going anywhere. Park your car for a while and after everything cools off you can drive away. As long as you never touch the brake pedal you can go further but not forever if the excess brake pressure never releases back into the system.

Kind of a fine line between good pedal feel and locking brakes. Try wiggling the push pin which should always be loose and never under load. If it's under load, loosen the eccentric until the pin moves freely and then you should be able to easily drive away. I believe you would need 14 and 17 mm wrenches to do the adjustment.

[ja17]

Agree, get a new mechanic and then new rubber brake hoses.

[stickandrudderman]

I like a good joke so tell this mechanic that he should seek re-employment as a comedian.

[Cees Klumper]

X2 on the brake hoses being the culprit. And he is not a mechanic, on that we all agree!

[Big Yellow]

All been resolved and explained... 

I live in France, I'm not French, but my mechanic is... Lost in translation, was the problem. I spoke to the garage admin yesterday, over the phone, so there you have it, language confusion.
Today I went there, talked to the mechanic directly, and we were laughing at the confusion. Of course there are no connection between locked brakes and the clutch!

The clutch is old and had a clogged up master cylinder, and the brake master cylinder was the culprit of the locked brakes. All sorted now and she drives like a Goddess!

Sorry to have confused and stirred you all up!

Best regards from a 38 degrees Celsius South of France !!

[russelljones48]

another impact of climate change?  🤔

[Rick]

Yes--  It is a step by step process.  Hoses should be replaced if over 12 years old. It does not matter what the outside of the hose looks like.  Also, yes-  If the master cylinder is not returning all the way back, the bleed hole will be covered.  And of course you could have corroded calipers. 

I received this picture of your mechanic beginning work on your car.

[hauser]

Maybe your mechanic was trying to say Clutch Slave Cylinder?