front brakes going mad !

[LastLawyer]

Hi Griffters,

once again - and sorry for that - a supportcase from a german griffdriver.

believe it or not. but i have a very serious problem with my griff that nobody can understand. the mechanics all say that it is "simply impossible" to have this kind of problem !

the problem is that my front brake (the left one of a LHD car) gets more and more worse and even starts a little bit braking by itself the hotter the car gets. that means that the car fades extremely to the left side when braking on the motorway. but it is also noticeable during town-drive. when i press the brake-pedal on the motorway the car is immediately going to the left.

as anything is new or was made some months ago i just wonder what could be the reason for this sometimes dangerous kind of misbehaving.

especially because it really seems to be a temperature (car heating up) problem. that because of the fact that i noticed it extremely after i lost my front air ram (spoiler). the spoiler is just a VW Golf I TD one mounted at the rear and of the 4.3 griffs air inlet. it gives really efficient cooling to the rad but it seems that also to the brakes. a fact is that i really - i don´t cross my fingers - encounter that prob so massive with the spoiler under the car !!!

but why to hell to the brakes as they are not involved to to cooling system at all - or are they ? is there any damn cable or something else that needs to be cooled to avoid my problem ?

please help ! it´s not real fun to fade 2 meters to the left when braking on the motorway with just 120 mph ! and it´s even less fun to "jump" back to the right after lifting the brake-pedal :-(((

Wish i´d live in GB sometimes ...

[shpub]

No it is not impossible!

It can be caused by:

1. Sticky sliders on the calliper causing pads to bind.
2. Problems with seal on the callipers.
3. Air in one side.
4. Geometry or suspension problem.
5. Something jammed in the callipers.

Edited by shpub on Sunday 1st October 09:13

[cln1]

Yes I'd be looking for a sticking caliper

[cptsideways]

Stuck or seized caliper

[60maxx]

Why not take it for a brake rolling road test to establish %efficiencies and balance, surley this would confirm if there is a fault and which side the fault is on! Dave

[raw-sewedge]

Pads could also be sticking. Last set of pads that I put in were a poor fit. I had to file a little of the top and bottom of the back plate to make them slide freely in the caliper.

[rallycol]

If it's not the caliper,it could be the flexi-pipe ,they can delaminate internaly ,and cause the fluid not to return towards the master cylinder.

[old64er]

rallycol said:

If it's not the caliper,it could be the flexi-pipe ,they can delaminate internaly ,and cause the fluid not to return towards the master cylinder.

You beat me too it

More usual than you would think!!!

[LastLawyer]

Many thanks for your help :-)

Cheers LL

[That Daddy]

yes when the inside of the flexible brake hose starts to fail,what you get is a flap of rubber that works like a one way valve letting fluid pass in one direction but not allowing it to return to the master cylinder,hence a brake that binds causing the pads to overheat causing odd brake behavoir.this happens ever so often in the trade,often incorrectly diagnoised as a faulty brake calliper,but it could still be a calliper fault, sticking piston,jammed pads etc.worth checking 1st though.

[GreenV8S]

That Daddy said:

yes when the inside of the flexible brake hose starts to fail,what you get is a flap of rubber that works like a one way valve letting fluid pass in one direction but not allowing it to return to the master cylinder,hence a brake that binds causing the pads to overheat causing odd brake behavoir.this happens ever so often in the trade,often incorrectly diagnoised as a faulty brake calliper,but it could still be a calliper fault, sticking piston,jammed pads etc.worth checking 1st though.

Is there any easy way to diagnose it? Perhaps cracking the bleed nipple and feeling that the brake stopped dragging?

[scoule]

Could it also be an overly adjusted pushrod from the brake pedal to the back of the servo, preventing the master cylinder returning to the "resting" position where fluid can return to the resevoir?
I guess it could also be a sticky master cylinder piston too?

Try the cheaper / easier stuff first since these things would probably affect both sides!