Strange Brakes!!!

sybong

Guest
Hi, im new to the forum, im hoping you can help me....

ive looked through lots of posts regarding my brakes but im still not sure what my problem is.....

With the engine off (i.e no servo) the pedal is nice and hard, once the engine is running the pedal goes (nearly) to the floor, when braking it seems to work, with good efficiency but something seems a miss, my mk4 golf tdi brakes were there as soon as i touched the pedal.

I have bled the system, (2 rears, 2 fronts and the 1 nipple on the master cylinder.) but this seems to have had no effect.....seemed to be air in the master when bleeding.

can any one please help me out,

thanks

Simon
 

Avant4me

Active Member
Oct 13, 2005
359
0
Bristol
This can be a symptom of callipers in need of cleaning if they are seized. This is very common in motorcycles. If you hold the pedal down for a while like a few minutes, then release, does this improve the pedal feel?
 

sybong

Guest
This can be a symptom of callipers in need of cleaning if they are seized. This is very common in motorcycles. If you hold the pedal down for a while like a few minutes, then release, does this improve the pedal feel?

i have not tried that no, i will see! cheers

and

Theres 2 nipples on the master cylinder. have you done both?
__________________
2005 Seat Leon FR - 18'' R8 Wheels - Jetex Full Cat-Back Exhaust - Coilovers - Rear Eibach ARB

No only the one on the top...where is the other??

thanks

simon
 

sybong

Guest
right...checked the foot to the floor for 3 mins....didnt seem to do much....

and have found the 2nd bleed nipple on the mater...(what does the 2nd one do? i.e why have 2)
 

Faisal

UK's 1st Liquid Yello LCR
May 27, 2008
1,445
0
Most likely at work
seems like you have a problem with your slave cylinder or master cylinder.air could possibly be getting trapped in the system (not the same thing as bleeding brakes as this is a hydraulic system).you should get it checked out at a garage and they could get to the bottom of it.
 

JoeV

Active Member
Apr 28, 2008
95
0
Chester
Right this sounds similar to a problem i had.

i had to take the master cylinder from the servo and wind the screw on the master cylinder right in (it had magically worked its way out). This solved the problem with mine anyway.

[The two bleed nippled at the master cylinder are for back and front]
 

sybong

Guest
i bled them with the engine off and running and just by using the foot pedal not power bleeding (dont really see it being any different myself)
 

traumapat

Leon Cupra IHI
Jul 24, 2005
5,925
4
sunny sussex
i bled them with the engine off and running and just by using the foot pedal not power bleeding (dont really see it being any different myself)

you may have damaged the MC... power bleeding is really the only safe way. try sending bill (ibizacupra) a pm.
 

mikey_b

Active Member
May 18, 2008
322
0
Manchester
i bled them with the engine off and running and just by using the foot pedal not power bleeding (dont really see it being any different myself)



Dunno then mate it worked for me after that i drove around and slam the breaks on (make sure no one is behind you tho lol) do that for bout a day or two it should work.
 

Willie

LCR Track car
Aug 6, 2004
8,939
1
Sunny Scotland
Te two nipples are for the two hydraulic systems for the brakes.
One for front drives and rear passangers side the other for the other two.
If one system fail atleast you have braking at the front and back for safer braking
Have you done two nipples on each caliper, two in the master cylinder and one n the clutch?
And bled the front brake first then the rear
 

danielc16

cupra R dan
May 13, 2008
327
0
guildford
hello i got the same prob! i pump the pedal till its hard while the engines off, then i keep my foot and then turn the engine on and it sinks to normal level but i drive and i then pressed the brake and it sinks even more then before but it still brakes. i looked at all my calipers and they all look clean with no signs of leaks can any one help?
 

welsh boy

Guest
I have exactly the same problem and that was after taking my Leon to an independent VW specialist! They said they bled the system 6 times before they were happy. There is an awful lot of travel in the pedal now before the car properly brakes. They claimed it's better now than before but I disagree. Is it worth getting a second opinion so to speak...
 

DPJ

...........
Dec 13, 2004
7,996
2
NN Yorks / Salento
www.seatcupra.net
I have exactly the same problem and that was after taking my Leon to an independent VW specialist! They said they bled the system 6 times before they were happy. There is an awful lot of travel in the pedal now before the car properly brakes. They claimed it's better now than before but I disagree. Is it worth getting a second opinion so to speak...

Yes. With the brakes bled properly, there should be no travel on the pedal.
 

andycupra

status subject to change
Right this sounds similar to a problem i had.

i had to take the master cylinder from the servo and wind the screw on the master cylinder right in (it had magically worked its way out). This solved the problem with mine anyway.

[The two bleed nippled at the master cylinder are for back and front]


this sounds interesting.

there are alot of people with a bit of movement in the pedal before it does anything. But once this slack in the pedal is taken up it brakes fine.
Would this be similair to your issue?

I have been told there is some adjustment on the pedal in this respect, could this be what they are refering to?
 

welsh boy

Guest
Yeah that is similar to my issue, lots of slack in the pedal, but they did not mention any pedal adjustment. The brakes are a lot looser now than when I dropped it off, despite their claims. They are a trustworthy garage that's been going years, so they should know what they're doing...
 

leonbeastmk1

Guest
You may find the seals in the brake master cylinder hav flipped over and caused either brake pedal travel or poor braking. You cant flip back the seals cause its a sealed unit. I would advised to go to a garage and get there verdict on it.
 

Nabraxas

Active Member
Feb 11, 2007
111
0
I have a slight bit of pedal travel before the brakes 'bite' - mine's always been like this even after bleeding the brakes/mc several times - I test drove another Leon and that one was sharp as anything.

I find the brakes on my Leon a bit strange anyway; sometimes they bite really well other times they seem a bit poor.

Not sure whether anybody else has experienced this strange issue that I get sometimes... occasionally the brake pedal feels very hard and seems to have a 'tapping' sensation in the pedal, not rapid like the ABS active just a tapping and a hard brake pedal - dissapears after coming off and back on again.
 
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