diabolical brakes
Discussion
Hi,
I suspect this subject has cropped up before but here goes anyway...
I was driving down my road last night at less than 30mph down hill, when a car pulled out infront of me. I hit the brakes and got virtually nothing - fortunately there was a well placed dropped kerb for some evassive action, otherwise it would have been unpleasant. I carried on driving with no further brake issues, but no emergency stops required either.
I'm not particularly mechanically minded I must admit, but the car was MOT'd in January with no advisories and I've covered about 2000 miles since then with no issues. I know the brakes aren't great as standard but is this kind of thing expected?
Should I be getting them looked at or is this to be expected and should I consider upgrading them, and if so what to?
Any advice would be most welcome.
Cheers,
Jack
I suspect this subject has cropped up before but here goes anyway...
I was driving down my road last night at less than 30mph down hill, when a car pulled out infront of me. I hit the brakes and got virtually nothing - fortunately there was a well placed dropped kerb for some evassive action, otherwise it would have been unpleasant. I carried on driving with no further brake issues, but no emergency stops required either.
I'm not particularly mechanically minded I must admit, but the car was MOT'd in January with no advisories and I've covered about 2000 miles since then with no issues. I know the brakes aren't great as standard but is this kind of thing expected?
Should I be getting them looked at or is this to be expected and should I consider upgrading them, and if so what to?
Any advice would be most welcome.
Cheers,
Jack
The pedal felt normal but the car simply didn't stop anywhere near as quick as it should.
Interestingly, having had it out today, although fine on the road, there's a small puddle of what appears to be brake fluid in my garage.
It looks like it could have come from the joint in the brake lines just behind the engine (about level with where the steering wheel is).
I've put some paper down under the car to see if thats definately where its coming from.
Interestingly, having had it out today, although fine on the road, there's a small puddle of what appears to be brake fluid in my garage.
It looks like it could have come from the joint in the brake lines just behind the engine (about level with where the steering wheel is).
I've put some paper down under the car to see if thats definately where its coming from.
I noticed my brakes were getting less than reassuring. I'm very light on brakes and have had this trouble on a previous car. Cure was to remove all pads and de-glaze the surfaces. Coppaslip on all the sliding bits and then change the brake fliud.
Check the servo as well. With the engine off pump the brakes, then with your foot on the pedal start the engine...the pedal should now slightly sink.
Check the servo as well. With the engine off pump the brakes, then with your foot on the pedal start the engine...the pedal should now slightly sink.
450Nick said:
Agree with the above - get it down to a specialist pronto... If you can afford it, it's well worth upgrading the front brakes to a decent set of 4 pots (ap or wilwood etc), the difference is amazing and gives you so much more confidence with the car.
I"m really interested if that is the general view. Excluding the OP's issues, my car on standard brakes can easily lock the wheels if I push the pedal down too hard. I haven't found the standard set-up lacking in anyway. It's fair to say I haven't taken it out on the track but I do drive 'swiftly' where possible.
(Sorry for potential thread hijack).
It's got me thinking now. What if the leak isn't brake fluid and there is a separate problem than nees to be addressed as well as getting the brakes looked at?
The leak is a clear oily fluid, seems exactly like brake fluid, coming from the middle of the car near to the gearbox ish. Do the brake hoses run down the middle of the car?
The leak is a clear oily fluid, seems exactly like brake fluid, coming from the middle of the car near to the gearbox ish. Do the brake hoses run down the middle of the car?
A900ss said:
I"m really interested if that is the general view.
Excluding the OP's issues, my car on standard brakes can easily lock the wheels if I push the pedal down too hard. I haven't found the standard set-up lacking in anyway. It's fair to say I haven't taken it out on the track but I do drive 'swiftly' where possible.
(Sorry for potential thread hijack).
Same here, I did Rockingham and braking at the end of a straight ready for a 90 degree turn could lock the fronts up if left a tad too late. Excluding the OP's issues, my car on standard brakes can easily lock the wheels if I push the pedal down too hard. I haven't found the standard set-up lacking in anyway. It's fair to say I haven't taken it out on the track but I do drive 'swiftly' where possible.
(Sorry for potential thread hijack).
My thoughts were would it benefit from a little more bias on the rear? Running SO2's (they must be getting on a bit - low mileage car), would newer tyres stop me locking up, in which case an upgrade might be worth considering?
A failed join or seal would give the symptoms you mention - current state of play would be that gentle braking is matched by the pressure release effect of it having a leak. Hard braking currently applies more pressure than it can release so you get braking.
Get it fixed and don't use it in the mean time.
I had a brake line fail on me a couple of weeks ago. All was fine, then gently braking up to a junction and the pressure just went, I found myself rolling towards the back of a van at about 4mph, trying to stop with the (useless) handbrake. Luckily I came to a halt.
Drove straight to my specialist (thankfully only 2 miles away) and when I pulled up the NSF wheel was cover in brake fluid. A set of braided hoses later and it's right as rain.
Get it fixed and don't use it in the mean time.
I had a brake line fail on me a couple of weeks ago. All was fine, then gently braking up to a junction and the pressure just went, I found myself rolling towards the back of a van at about 4mph, trying to stop with the (useless) handbrake. Luckily I came to a halt.
Drove straight to my specialist (thankfully only 2 miles away) and when I pulled up the NSF wheel was cover in brake fluid. A set of braided hoses later and it's right as rain.
Slightly aside but in relation to the 4 pot question, you're not going to get more ultimate stopping power with bigger brakes - that's limited by the amount of tyre grip you have. What it does mean though is that you have far more control at reaching that point, so you get a lot better feel, and you can brake harder without any fear of locking the wheels - good upgrade IMHO
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff