Dodgy brakes

[dixiebabes]

Out on a run yesterday trying to keep up with several ferraris brakes were going spongy, pedal travelling quite a way further down than normal when the car cooled down seemed ok, checked the brake fuel level it was the same as when i set off ??????????? Travellling home i took it easy and it seemed fine then about 5 miles from home it started again any ideas lads? could the brake fluid have broken dowm or is it just down to heat its got me beat??

Regards Dix

[convert]

You might have some water in the fluid. When it gets hot this tends to boil, and you get a lot more pedal travel (if you're lucky)

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

When was it last changed.

you should do a full change every 3-5 years.
use high quality dot 4 at least.

[BadRedWedge]

Sounds like you have a brake binding and the fluid is boiling, check you brakes and change the fluid. DOT 5.1 has a higher boiler point and is worth the extra money

[350zwelgje]

If the brakes continue to work, the brake master cylinder is probably fine. If not it could be on its way out. Change fluid dot 5.1 if available would be my first step, if not ok master cylinder to be looked at.

Rob

[dixiebabes]

Cheers lads looks like its the brake fluid getting it changed as soon as poss dont want that to happen again

Regards Dix

[islander]

Have a look at your rear brakes, my guess would be that one of then has siezed on causing the heat build up and boiling of the fluid, as this is exactly what happened to mine. Even if it has released itself when you have a look you can tell by looking at the visible edge of the pad if you get a white line than thats the caliper that has siezed.

[tempus]

Check the colour of your fluid,it has a built in colour indicator to show how much water has been absorbed,if it gets darker than honey then I would change it,but for super Dot4 which is capable of withstanding very high temperatures,greater than the proximity of a few Fezzas should cause,I dont think you have a caliper problem as that would cause fade and you dont appear to have suffered brake fade.Tempus

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

if it's not been changed in 3 years just change it. it's not worth not doing.
you going to need a good 2 litre's to do it properly.

[Keri]

Also once brake fluid has boiled, its boiling point actually drops from that day on, making it far easier for it to happen again. (funny old stuff...)

[combine]

My brakes were getting spongy a few weeks ago , turned out that the back brakes needed bleeding , once done the pedal becomes much firmer and you stop a hell of a lot quicker !