Mud-club

Vehicle & Technical => Discovery => Topic started by: JumboBeef on December 01, 2008, 16:36:05

Title: Soft brakes
Post by: JumboBeef on December 01, 2008, 16:36:05

1996 Disco V8 auto LPG.

Hi all,

The brakes on the above motor have always been good.  I replaced the front pads about eight weeks ago and the rears about four weeks ago.  Everything was perfect.

Over the weekend, I had a long drive.  After spending about two hours cruising on the motorway without using the brakes, I pulled into a service station and the brakes were perfect (as always).  Refueled and back out onto the motorway for another couple of hours and as I came off the motorway on a slip road and braked up to the junction, the brakes were very soft, and the pedal went almost to the floor. 

If you stamp on the brakes, they will pull you up but there is no way I could get the ABS to kick in.  If you press the brake pedal with the engine off, the pedal is about 50% soft compaired to when the engine is running.  If you then start the engine with your foot on the pedal, the pedal gets softer and you can push it almost to the floor.

I have checked the fluid and it is OK (just about on max).

What could it be please?

Thanks.

Title: Re: Soft brakes
Post by: craig_midz on December 01, 2008, 16:44:21

i have a v8 disco with abs an my brake pedal feels softer then my dads disco without abs had new brake lines for mot an ii thought it wasnt bled properley so took it to garage an put it on pressure bleeder an still the same an with mine they stop ya an abs cuts in but u seem to be able to push the brake pedal all the way to the floor an i was thinking its was a leak on the pipe from inlet manifold to brake servo or maybe a fault in my abs pump but my abs light goes off once i get to 5 mph so im no wiser yet still trying  :P

Title: Re: Soft brakes
Post by: lurch_917 on December 01, 2008, 17:27:36

just a thought it might be a week vacume pump or this pump on its way out

Title: Re: Soft brakes
Post by: JumboBeef on December 01, 2008, 20:24:29

OK, thanks.

Where would I find the vacuum pump, or pipes?

Title: Re: Soft brakes
Post by: JumboBeef on December 02, 2008, 15:24:16

Anyone, please?

Title: Re: Soft brakes
Post by: 300TDi Disco on December 02, 2008, 15:37:38

Don't know if this is the same on landrovers but when i had my old car and i changed the front pads. i pushed the piston back to quick, which blew a seal in the servo. I found this the brakes would be great for abit after bleeding them but over time they would get softer. hope this helps.

Title: Re: Soft brakes
Post by: JumboBeef on December 02, 2008, 16:37:53

Quote from: V8DEFENDER90 on December 02, 2008, 15:37:38

Don't know if this is the same on landrovers but when i had my old car and i changed the front pads. i pushed the piston back to quick, which blew a seal in the servo. I found this the brakes would be great for abit after bleeding them but over time they would get softer. hope this helps.

Thanks for the reply.

The thing is, the brakes were 100% before this problem.  Then, after a trip down the motorway (when they were not used), they suddenly went soft.  It seems to me like something has failed/fallen off/broken and I'm hoping it might just be something simple.............

Title: Re: Soft brakes
Post by: JumboBeef on December 04, 2008, 14:05:21

I've given up looking (it's too cold out there anyway).

It is booked into a garage to see what is wrong.

Title: Re: Soft brakes
Post by: JumboBeef on December 05, 2008, 17:06:55

OK, the garage bled the brakes and all OK now, but..........

They said the reason they went like this after a long cruise down the motorway was because the front calipers were/are binding on, the fluid boiled and air got into the system.

They tell me I need new ones both sides, and if I don't get it done, they I will get the same problem again.  Craddocks want £70 + VAT per side and the garage want an hour per side to fit them, plus fluid.

Does all this sound fair? 

Thanks.

Title: Re: Soft brakes
Post by: karlo on December 05, 2008, 22:58:31

bit cheaper at paddocks http://www.paddockspares.com/sp/abspage/2/category/DISCOVERY_1/searchbox2/1__Front_Axle/subcategory/Brakes.html (http://www.paddockspares.com/sp/abspage/2/category/DISCOVERY_1/searchbox2/1__Front_Axle/subcategory/Brakes.html)

On a lift I would have thought both sides could be done within an hour?

Title: Re: Soft brakes
Post by: JumboBeef on December 06, 2008, 16:12:48

Thanks!

Title: Re: Soft brakes
Post by: JumboBeef on December 07, 2008, 12:23:51

How hard is it to replace these yourself at home?

Thanks.

Title: Re: Soft brakes
Post by: karlo on December 07, 2008, 12:41:36

Worse part is bleeding the system.

Have a look here the principal is the same.
http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=19371 (http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=19371)




Caliper carrier is held on by 2 splined head bolts

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v410/TurdFerguson944/Land%20Rover/CV%20Joint%20Replacement/DSCF0186copy.jpg)

Don't forget to undo the brake pipe

Title: Re: Soft brakes
Post by: JumboBeef on December 08, 2008, 19:34:24

OK, thanks!

Title: Re: Soft brakes
Post by: JumboBeef on December 21, 2008, 20:49:02

Well, I've had the calipers, disks and pads replaced on the front (so, completely new brakes then :D ) and the difference is amazing!  Makes me realise how bad they were before.

Thank for all the advice!