10 replies to this topic

[Digital]

I had a new set of Mintex 1144 pads and standard discs (front and rear) fitted yesterday, along with a fluid change, but the brake pedal is now a lot softer than it should be. When I picked up the car I was told that the brake pedal might be a bit soft initially (I should have queried this, but didn't), but I've been out for a 50 mile drive today and they are still as bad as they first were. The brake pedal has to be pushed a lot further for anything to happen and it just feels really soft I'm guessing the brakes just haven't been bled properly, but any advice welcome...

[Astranomical102]

I had a new set of Mintex 1144 pads and standard discs (front and rear) fitted yesterday, along with a fluid change, but the brake pedal is now a lot softer than it should be. When I picked up the car I was told that the brake pedal might be a bit soft initially (I should have queried this, but didn't), but I've been out for a 50 mile drive today and they are still as bad as they first were. The brake pedal has to be pushed a lot further for anything to happen and it just feels really soft

I'm guessing the brakes just haven't been bled properly, but any advice welcome...

I had the same problem when I changed my discs, pads and fluid. It would seem air gets trapped in the caliper and normal bleeding wont shift it, pressure bleeding is the way to go! John Reid from SE did mine for me and the difference is huge
It may however just be that the clutch needs bled
Hope this helps,
C U on Sunday.

[Pidgeon]

Will be a bleeding issue, needs a pressure bleed or for the caliper to be removed and inverted.

[Digital]

OK, thanks guys, will give the garage a call tomorrow to get it booked back in What's the deal with inverting the caliper, is it just a case of remove it and turn it upside down? Craig, the SIDC day is on Saturday Are you booked on for this one? Jamie

[johnboy_78]

OK, thanks guys, will give the garage a call tomorrow to get it booked back in What's the deal with inverting the caliper, is it just a case of remove it and turn it upside down?

Craig, the SIDC day is on Saturday Are you booked on for this one?

Jamie

Jamie

Out of curiosity, where did you get the work done? When I got my car back a few weeks ago from its service (fluid change but no new discs/pads) I thought my brake pedal felt softer and that there was more travel in the pedal. Will need to take mine back too.

John

[Astranomical102]

Craig, the SIDC day is on Saturday Are you booked on for this one?

Jamie

I think I may be working

[GruFF]

mine kinda felt the same, and turned the car off and just kept pumping the brake really hard, then took the car out for a spin and done some seriously heavy braking, feels alryt now

[cyberface]

Do the recommended bedding in procedure, if the pedal is still soft then you have air in the system somewhere, and need proper pressure bleeding done (as stated above). Bed the brakes in first though to be sure - pads and discs are often supplied with a coating that needs to be burnt off to ensure perfect mating surfaces between pad and disc.

[Digital]

Out of curiosity, where did you get the work done? When I got my car back a few weeks ago from its service (fluid change but no new discs/pads) I thought my brake pedal felt softer and that there was more travel in the pedal. Will need to take mine back too.

John

John, I used a place in Bonnybridge called HyperTech, they specialise in Jap stuff but I've used them a few times before with no problems. I've got the car booked back in for Wednesday to get it checked out.

I'm convinced it's just a bleeding issue, as the brakes seem to have a bit of bite to them, it's just that the pedal travel is a lot longer and the pedal feels very "squishy". I could understand if there was an initial lack of bite due to the new pads and discs bedding in, but certainly wouldn't expect the pedal to feel as soft as it does.

What is pressure bleeding, as I don't think I've heard of that before? And what's the exact process for inverting the calipers, is it just a case of turn it upside down?

Jamie

[actionjackson]

Out of curiosity, where did you get the work done? When I got my car back a few weeks ago from its service (fluid change but no new discs/pads) I thought my brake pedal felt softer and that there was more travel in the pedal. Will need to take mine back too.

John

John, I used a place in Bonnybridge called HyperTech, they specialise in Jap stuff but I've used them a few times before with no problems. I've got the car booked back in for Wednesday to get it checked out.

I'm convinced it's just a bleeding issue, as the brakes seem to have a bit of bite to them, it's just that the pedal travel is a lot longer and the pedal feels very "squishy". I could understand if there was an initial lack of bite due to the new pads and discs bedding in, but certainly wouldn't expect the pedal to feel as soft as it does.

What is pressure bleeding, as I don't think I've heard of that before? And what's the exact process for inverting the calipers, is it just a case of turn it upside down?



Jamie

I had this same problem after a fluid and pad change. I didn't lose the bite of the brakes but gained a soft spongey pedal
To sort this i first bled the brakes, then removed the front calipers from their mounting (one side at a time) and turned it upside down whilst bleeding. This causes the air to be removed from the opposite side of the bleed nipple. Make sure you place a block inside the caliper when bleeding because otherwise the pistons will be pushed out! Tapping the caliper can help the process by bringing the air to the surface of the caliper resevior.

Neil

Edited by actionjackson, 06 March 2007 - 07:40 AM.

[Digital]

Thanks for that Neil, I'll tell the garage that when I'm in tomorrow, hopefully by this time tomorrow I'll have a VX with decent brakes once more! Cheers, Jamie