Brakes driving me mad!!!!

[STU3Y]

I have a Seat leon mk2 2.0tdi reference sport. It's is a Bkd engine on a 2007 plate.

Recently I serviced it and changed the brake discs and pads all round. Including topping up brake fluid and bleeding etc. This seemed to go fine and the brakes were so much better.

After a few days of driving i noticed that my mpg was down by about 4 mpg and upon checking my rear nearside disc was getting hotter than all the others.

I decided to check all the calipers so had them off the discs and pumped each piston in and out about 5 or 6 times and lubed under the outer seal with brake fluid.

All seemed in good condition and didn't appear to be sticking at all, however I noted the one that was getting hotter didn't retract as much after releasing the brake pedal.

Having put it all back together I went for a drive and it was no different.

Whilst checking all the calipers I noted that the other rear also had a seized nipple so eventually decided to replace bother rear calipers.

I did this and fitted both calipers and bled the brakes until there was No air from any of them including the front.

Since doing this I have had nothing but problems as the pedal travels almost to the floor and is not firm at all.

I have now bled the brakes about 8 times in total, I have used the normal method and also vacuum bleeder and gone through litres of fluid. Each time I am certain there is no air coming out and I go through around 5 depresses of the pedal on each caliper with no air.

I have also used vcds to go through the abs bleed sequence and gone through this twice with no difference. 3.5 litres of fluid later I give up.

From reading forums, people seem to think the clutch has to be bled and also the brake master cylinder. I haven't bled the clutch as I didn't want to cause any issue with that too.

With regards to the master cylinder there doesn't appear to be any way to bleed this and on looking on elsawin it does not seem to have a bleed nipple, so I think that may only apply your mk1 Leon's.

Any advice would be much appreciated as I have got to the point I will have to put it in to a garage and waste loads of money while they use trial and error to sort it and repeat everything I have already done.

For info, at the moment the pedal has loads of travel, and is soft. I can do an emergency stop however the pedal will hit the floor in order to do this.

Any ideas





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[boggle]

Hi

Did u clamp the hoses when you changed the calipers?

When you bleed the calipers are you still getting air bubbles on each wheel?

It might be worth doing a visual check of the clutch line for leaks especially round the 'donut pot' on the bulkheaad

 

[STU3Y]

Yeah clamped the hose. No air coming out of calipers when bled.

Can't see any leaks anywhere and fluid seems to be the same

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[boggle]

Its likely its the master cylinder or the booster. Have you checked the vacum hose to the master cylinder - is theres a one way valve?

 

[Smoki333]

Had the same issue in the past on my previous BKD after new calipers...pedal would sink even though no air in the system but I was using the two person brake bleeder.
Got my mechanic to do it in the end, he used a vacuum bleeder but bleed them prefect while the car was grounded.

I have read that bleeding it on the ground has helped others?..

How are you bleeding yours, wheels off?

 

[STU3Y]

I'm having to Jack up one wheel at a time. Can't do the rears without wheels off cos can't access the nipples. I did try a vacuum bleeder but didn't work. I've got a pressure bleeder now, not tried it as having been through 3.5 litres of fluid I'm struggling to believe it would air in the system still.

I can't decide if it is worth trying once again with the new pressure bleeder

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[STU3Y]

Its likely its the master cylinder or the booster. Have you checked the vacum hose to the master cylinder - is theres a one way valve?

Haven't checked the hose. How would I know if there is a one way valve? I'm suspecting it will be master cylinder as people seem to hint the seal fails during manual bleeding.

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[STU3Y]

Have now used pressure bleeder too and no air. Still not really any better.

Like I said I can lock wheels up and do emergency stop with abs but there is just loads of travel and pedal feels soft so doesn't give reassurance.

Also noted that the same rear brake is red hot compared to the the others. This was the whole reason I changed the calipers in the first place.

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[DynamicD]

Back in the day, i had a H reg Scirocco with a similar problem because there was a valve being activated because the car was not level using the one jack method. As soon as I did the same procedure with car level, worked mint.
The garages are going to be using ramps or nothing and car flat on ground.
Surely a fluid change at a local Euro Fit etc is £40 and worth a bash?
Dave

EDIT : £29 at Cannock - http://eurofitautocentres.co.uk/products/brake-fluid-change/

 

[boggle]

Hi
So no air means no leaks
Try the brake bleed on the abs controller with vcds. I clicked by mistaken at the weekend, i didnt bleed anything but the abs pump started and the pedal went soft right to the floor. I followed the instructions and pumped the pedal few times and it firmed up.
Might be worth a go

 

[STU3Y]

Back in the day, i had a H reg Scirocco with a similar problem because there was a valve being activated because the car was not level using the one jack method. As soon as I did the same procedure with car level, worked mint.
The garages are going to be using ramps or nothing and car flat on ground.
Surely a fluid change at a local Euro Fit etc is £40 and worth a bash?
Dave

EDIT : £29 at Cannock - http://eurofitautocentres.co.uk/products/brake-fluid-change/

Someone else has mentioned this also. Strange concept but could be it. Thinking about getting booked into German car specialist. Annoying though cos they will probably go over everything I have done about 8 times already but only charge me a fortune for it.

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[STU3Y]

Hi
So no air means no leaks
Try the brake bleed on the abs controller with vcds. I clicked by mistaken at the weekend, i didnt bleed anything but the abs pump started and the pedal went soft right to the floor. I followed the instructions and pumped the pedal few times and it firmed up.
Might be worth a go

Already done this twice

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[STU3Y]

Regarding my hot brake discs I thought I would check the handbrake and found this

Not sure what side that would mean is sticking. Any ideas?

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[STU3Y]

Either way I have adjusted it to this

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[STU3Y]

Now bled clutch. Not really made any difference. I give up

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[boggle]

Dude i feel your pain, a beer or two normaly helps

If you pump the brake pedal does it go solid at all?

Does the pedal drop slowly with preasure aplied?

 

[STU3Y]

Dude i feel your pain, a beer or two normaly helps

If you pump the brake pedal does it go solid at all?

Does the pedal drop slowly with preasure aplied?

Yeah it goes hard, especially during bleeding process. But once engine is on it sinks slowly under light pressure.

I've finally had to give in and booked it in the garage for Monday.

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[Shaun]

Have you resolved this problem? I have just changed all the brakes and pads on my brother in laws a3. Bled the brakes and now the pedal hits the floor when you start the engine but is solid when the engine is off

 

[Dan FR]

Either air still in there or you've damaged the master cylinder when pumping the brakes

 

[STU3Y]

No haven't solved mine yet. I've given up trying due to lack of time on my part. I will be dropping it off at a German car specialist today

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