Braking problems?

[Yadizzle1]

Hello everyone

I've been having some pretty poor brake performance from my car recently. Basically the problem is that you have to push the pedal down quite far for the brakes to actually do any work, but I have noticed that pumping or tapping the brake pedal before braking significantly improves the braking performance.

I've had a bit of a nightmare trying to find out what the problem is, at first I thought I had worn my pads out, however a quick check of the pads in situ showed that they still had plenty of life left. Brake fluid is at the right level within the reservoir and I have been told that it's not due to air in the lines. I took my car to a mechanic who road tested the car and suggested that the pads may have become glazed due to overheating.

Which of these seems most likely to be the culprit, I can't imagine that pumping the pedal before braking would do anything to improve braking performance if the pads are glazed?

Any help would be much appreciated

[Yadizzle1]

I thought it would be air in the system too. Would pumping the brakes while the engine is off indicate any signs of air being in the system? When I do this my brake pedal firms up greatly and there is no spongy feeling or travel to the floor.

I started to bleed my brakes the other day with help from a couple of mates, however, when they were tightening the bleed nipple, they said that it was stuck and wouldn't tighten nor loosen and didn't want to risk damaging the nipple so gave up on that idea. That's when I took it to the mechanic who then said it's most likely brake glazing.

[Yadizzle1]

brman said:

could also be warped discs or worn wheel bearings I think?

(wheel rotating knocks back the pads so you have more travel before you get braking)

Normally you would feel warped discs though the pedal but possibly not dodgy bearings.

I also had something like this when the caliper slide pin was siezed and it was braking mostly with one pad.

Warped discs would give some sort of judder through the steering wheel as you brake I believe?

[Yadizzle1]

Thanks for the help, pulled my pads out and they were extremely smooth and shiny. Put new pads in and it's made a world of difference, I do have to double pump sometimes to get the brakes to really bite so will get the brake fluid replaced and the system bled as soon as possible.