Brake Failure..

[AndyC567]

Had a dodgy momenet with my Tolly, bit of a braking problem you might say !!

Applied brakes, pedal went straight to the floor, loads of warning lights, beeps etc but no brakes.
Ended up straight on at a 'T' junstion with one wheel up on the pavement !!
I was really lucky nothing was coming and that it happend close to home and not on a main road.

After a quick pump, the pedal came back, so wasn't really sure what had happend.

Managed to turn round and get back home, and found one of my brake linings lying on the pavement outside my house.
It had parted company with its backing plate that was still in position with the caliper.

While fitting new pads, I decided to do the discs as well, as they were a bit scored, and I know they were a tad warped as I get the usual shudder under braking most Tolly/Leon owns complain off. Lovely job now, still bedding in but a much smoother braking experience.

Has anyone else ever seen a pad fall to bits, I have never heard of it before ?

 

[Slimy]

I have heard of one or two occasions where the lining has come away from the backing plate, but it's a tiny percentage. It does sound like your car just had a complete fit because it suddenly found itself with no resistance on the brakes. With you pumping the brakes you simply took up the slack and got the backing plate in contact with the disc.

Although with it being a split circuit the other two should have worked at least a little bit? Perhaps not enough to stop the car I guess.

I don't think you could have done anything to predict or prevent it, it's just 'one of those things'. At least you replaced the discs and pads, aren't new brakes excellent?

 

[AndyC567]

does sound like your car just had a complete fit because it suddenly found itself with no resistance on the brakes. With you pumping the brakes you simply took up the slack and got the backing plate in contact with the disc.

Yep, thats about it..
I half expected a hydraulic failure and to find puddles of brake fluid on my drive, so I was quite amazed to crawl home and find a brake lining on the pavement !

I was lucky that with some much movement from the piston, it didn't 'pop' the seals out, would of had a nightmare on my hands then !

When I went to fit the new pads, I had to push the piston in miles in order to get the new pads to fit. Slowly did it, and all was fine.

At least you replaced the discs and pads, aren't new brakes excellent.

I did wonder about the discs, but as everything was in bits and I knew I had a bit of a wobble when braking, I decided to go for it and replace them..

The new brakes are getting better all the time, but I am taking care to avoid getting them to hot or sitting with my foot on the brake and warping my nice new discs.