Case Study: Massey Ferguson 35X Brake Repair

A Careful Fix That Restores Safe, Reliable Stopping Power

At Farm and Fleet Services, we know that brakes you can't rely on are never something to take lightly. As the trusted machinery specialists for Cornwall and West Devon, we take real pride in prompt response, honest diagnosis and repairs built to last. This job was a fine example of that approach in action — and here's how we got a hardworking Massey Ferguson 35X stopping safely and confidently once more.

The Problem

The customer got in touch to report a fault that's simply too important to ignore: the brakes weren't working very well. On any machine, brakes you can't trust turn every task into a risk — and on a tractor working the yard, the land and the road, that's a safety concern that needs putting right without delay. Understanding just how much rests on dependable stopping power, our team set to work getting straight to the root of it.

The Diagnosis

There's no substitute for a proper hands-on inspection. Rather than guessing at the cause, our engineer worked through the braking system carefully to pinpoint exactly what was going on. The verdict soon became clear: the hub seal on the right-hand side was leaking oil onto the brake shoes, and that oil was stopping the brakes from biting as they should.

Better still, we didn't stop at the obvious symptom. A closer look revealed the underlying cause too: play in the wheel bearings had let the seal fail in the first place, allowing oil to escape onto the shoes. A methodical, step-by-step check meant we identified both the fault and the reason behind it quickly — with no unnecessary work and no shortcuts.

The Solution

With the fault confirmed, our team carried out a thorough, lasting repair:

• Stripped down the hub to gain full, clear access to the affected components
• Replaced the worn wheel bearings to remove the play and restore proper support
• Fitted new seals to stop the oil leak completely and keep the brake shoes clean and dry for the long haul

Rather than simply cleaning up the symptom, we addressed the root cause too. Renewing the seal without tackling the worn bearings would only have invited the same fault straight back — so we replaced both, sparing the customer the frustration and expense of a repeat repair down the line.

The Result

The Massey Ferguson 35X was returned to work with safe, reliable braking fully restored and the oil leak resolved completely. Just as importantly, the customer left with complete confidence that the job had been done properly, first time — no return trips to the workshop and no lingering doubts out in the field.

Why Professional Servicing Pays

A brake that feels a little soft is easy to shrug off, but leave it unchecked and it can quickly become a serious safety risk as well as a far costlier repair. There's genuine value in trusting your machinery to people who know it inside out — and who look beyond the obvious to find the real cause. Our careful, do-it-properly approach meant we found not just the fault but the reason behind it, fitted only what was needed and had our customer back to work safely with minimal delay.

If your tractor or machinery isn't running as it should, the Farm and Fleet Services team is here to help. From precise diagnosis to quality repairs you can rely on right across Cornwall and West Devon, we'll keep you working — and keep you moving.