Spongy vRS Brakes?

Kansalis · 07-03-2005, 14:12

When I picked up my vRS last week, I wasn't really surprised that the brakes were a little on the spongy side. However, I did expect them to bed in by now after about 400 miles, probably around 300 of them on A & B roads.

They certainly leave a LOT to be desired when braking from speed. I had a bit of a run around the (straight

) country lanes at the weekend and braking from around 60mph is a lot more unresponsive than I expect it should be!

I've read a couple of other threads on here about the brakes not being too great, but should I get the brakes checked out by the dealer? My old X-reg Pug 206 1.1 seemed to brake better from speed

pbirkett · 07-03-2005, 15:26

Get em checked out if they are that bad.

Although I feel they could be better they certainly get better with age, and are WAY better than the brakes on my old Micra. Mine shed off speed very well... it just a slight amount of fade that I put up with under very hard driving.

Failing that, get some Ferrodo brake pads and new fluid.

You've also got to remember that the car is heavier and much faster than a 206 so you will likely be driving much faster without realising it.

Kansalis · 07-03-2005, 15:33

Thanks Paul. I'll give them another week to settle I guess.

There just seems to be a hell of a lot of play on the brakes (especially at speed) which I wouldn't expect of having discs all round on a new car. Having said that, I've never has a brand new car before, so maybe it's normal?

Anyone else with an 05 Furby noticed the same thing?

helpmedisappear · 07-03-2005, 15:35

I took my wheels off over the weekend and checked the pads, they are actually made by Ferrodo or mine are!!!

ScoobyChris · 07-03-2005, 15:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kansalis

However, I did expect them to bed in by now after about 400 miles, probably around 300 of them on A & B roads.

How have you bed them in? This site has some good tips about getting the best performance from the brakes......

Chris

neilwilliams · 07-03-2005, 15:54

When my dad drove my first Fabia (1.4 8v) a few years ago the brakes shocked him.

He's now got a 54-plate Fabia vRS and he has commented on the spongy brakes as well.

Having been driving Fabias for over 4 years I've gotten used to them but they could certainly do with more feedback to the driver.

skodakid · 07-03-2005, 17:32

Kansalis, are you talking about a new car, or one thats had a pad change?

The The · 07-03-2005, 17:41

There is nothing wrong with the power of my 05 brakes but I just don’t have the feel I am used to, can't complain about the rate of deceleration and no sponginess.

carefree · 07-03-2005, 18:04

Same here with my 54.......many a time i have had to stop sharp and they have always delivered.

bryand · 07-03-2005, 18:14

I came to a Fabia vRS from a Fabia TDI, and thought the vRS' brakes were awful. Then I realized I was travelling at least 10 mph faster than I was used to, and in a heavier car, so the brakes had more work to do.
Try it for another week, then get somebody at your dealer's to drive it and see what they say. (And be wary of "they're all like that, sir". They aren't, and few dealers have sold enough vRSes to allow them to make glib comparisons anyway).

spinndrift · 07-03-2005, 18:16

I've got used to the brakes - I haven't hit anything (yet) so have no complaints.

Must admit I thought they were crap to start with.

FunkySi · 07-03-2005, 19:30

Brakes are very poor for a car with so much power and weight. No 'feel' and a tendency to fade when warm.

Kansalis · 07-03-2005, 19:52

Brand new, Skodakid.

Thanks for the advice all. I'll give them another week & do a little purposeful 'bedding in' as suggested by Chris. If I don't see any improvement I'll drop by the dealer & see what they think.

Goodas · 15-03-2005, 14:27

Car has been having fairly spongy brakes of late.

Remembered the 'bedding in brakes' link provided by scooby chris and decided to follow it in my Fabia on my way home last night. The country road was totally empty and it was dark (hence would see lights if someone approached) so i did a series of stops as i got close to where i live and then did 3 emergency stops, the last being on my drive and held the brakes firmly on for 2 minutes.

Well its like having new brakes! Instant, consistant stopping power as soon as i touch the pedal. Must have re'bedded them in/compressed the pads as it says on the site.

Kansalis · 15-03-2005, 14:47

Hmmm, looks like I'll have to find a nice straight road to try that out. Unfortunately, living inside the M25 makes it a little difficult to find somewhere safe enough to do it.

Thanks for the update

Goodas · 15-03-2005, 14:55

Lived in london for 3 years (was at uni there), but i'm a country boy at heart.

Thought it would be funny if someone saw my braking antics....'look at that, rabbits must be out in force tonight'

07-03-2005, 14:12	#1
Kansalis Briskodian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: London Posts: 186 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Spongy vRS Brakes? When I picked up my vRS last week, I wasn't really surprised that the brakes were a little on the spongy side. However, I did expect them to bed in by now after about 400 miles, probably around 300 of them on A & B roads. They certainly leave a LOT to be desired when braking from speed. I had a bit of a run around the (straight ) country lanes at the weekend and braking from around 60mph is a lot more unresponsive than I expect it should be! I've read a couple of other threads on here about the brakes not being too great, but should I get the brakes checked out by the dealer? My old X-reg Pug 206 1.1 seemed to brake better from speed __________________ Kansalis Yellow 05 Furby vRS (Standard for now )

07-03-2005, 15:26	#2
pbirkett Briskodian Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,873 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Get em checked out if they are that bad. Although I feel they could be better they certainly get better with age, and are WAY better than the brakes on my old Micra. Mine shed off speed very well... it just a slight amount of fade that I put up with under very hard driving. Failing that, get some Ferrodo brake pads and new fluid. You've also got to remember that the car is heavier and much faster than a 206 so you will likely be driving much faster without realising it. Last edited by pbirkett; 07-03-2005 at 15:27.

07-03-2005, 15:33	#3
Kansalis Briskodian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: London Posts: 186 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks Paul. I'll give them another week to settle I guess. There just seems to be a hell of a lot of play on the brakes (especially at speed) which I wouldn't expect of having discs all round on a new car. Having said that, I've never has a brand new car before, so maybe it's normal? Anyone else with an 05 Furby noticed the same thing? __________________ Kansalis Yellow 05 Furby vRS (Standard for now )

07-03-2005, 15:35	#4
helpmedisappear Briskodian Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Bolton Posts: 1,764 Thanks: 37 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	I took my wheels off over the weekend and checked the pads, they are actually made by Ferrodo or mine are!!! __________________ Martin Black Magic Fabia vRS

07-03-2005, 15:54	#6
neilwilliams Techie Teacher Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 956 Thanks: 2 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	When my dad drove my first Fabia (1.4 8v) a few years ago the brakes shocked him. He's now got a 54-plate Fabia vRS and he has commented on the spongy brakes as well. Having been driving Fabias for over 4 years I've gotten used to them but they could certainly do with more feedback to the driver. __________________ Neil Williams History: Fabia 1.4 8v, Fabia 1.4 16v, Fabia vRS Now driving a Golf Mk5 tdi Teachers click HERE for free resources.

07-03-2005, 17:32	#7
skodakid Briskodian Join Date: May 2004 Location: the real world Posts: 193 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Kansalis, are you talking about a new car, or one thats had a pad change? __________________ Count me out...

07-03-2005, 17:41	#8
The The Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: North East Posts: 468 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	There is nothing wrong with the power of my 05 brakes but I just don’t have the feel I am used to, can't complain about the rate of deceleration and no sponginess. __________________ http://www.derekslackmotors.skoda.co.uk .

07-03-2005, 18:04	#9
carefree Briskodian Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Essex Posts: 1,045 Thanks: 1 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts	Same here with my 54.......many a time i have had to stop sharp and they have always delivered. __________________ '54' Black Magic Fabia vRS Yo Adrien I DID IT!!!

07-03-2005, 18:14	#10
bryand Fabian Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 1,767 Thanks: 1 Thanked 21 Times in 19 Posts	I came to a Fabia vRS from a Fabia TDI, and thought the vRS' brakes were awful. Then I realized I was travelling at least 10 mph faster than I was used to, and in a heavier car, so the brakes had more work to do. Try it for another week, then get somebody at your dealer's to drive it and see what they say. (And be wary of "they're all like that, sir". They aren't, and few dealers have sold enough vRSes to allow them to make glib comparisons anyway).

07-03-2005, 18:16	#11
spinndrift Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Woking Posts: 6,603 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	I've got used to the brakes - I haven't hit anything (yet) so have no complaints. Must admit I thought they were crap to start with. __________________ Rev. Andy The Rallying Reverend www.miniroadrunnerrallying.co.uk No money for rallying makes Andy a dull boy

07-03-2005, 19:30	#12
FunkySi Briskodian Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 103 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Brakes are very poor for a car with so much power and weight. No 'feel' and a tendency to fade when warm. __________________ May the Funk be with you undefined Black Magic VRS with lots of toys, Red Dragon box, green filter, pd160 intake and pikey mods, dip and main beam upgrades.

07-03-2005, 19:52	#13
Kansalis Briskodian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: London Posts: 186 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Brand new, Skodakid. Thanks for the advice all. I'll give them another week & do a little purposeful 'bedding in' as suggested by Chris. If I don't see any improvement I'll drop by the dealer & see what they think. __________________ Kansalis Yellow 05 Furby vRS (Standard for now )

15-03-2005, 14:27	#14
Goodas Briskodian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: North West UK Posts: 727 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Car has been having fairly spongy brakes of late. Remembered the 'bedding in brakes' link provided by scooby chris and decided to follow it in my Fabia on my way home last night. The country road was totally empty and it was dark (hence would see lights if someone approached) so i did a series of stops as i got close to where i live and then did 3 emergency stops, the last being on my drive and held the brakes firmly on for 2 minutes. Well its like having new brakes! Instant, consistant stopping power as soon as i touch the pedal. Must have re'bedded them in/compressed the pads as it says on the site. __________________ Corrida Red Fabia Vrs...now sold...new car...Blue Fiesta ST150

15-03-2005, 14:47	#15
Kansalis Briskodian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: London Posts: 186 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hmmm, looks like I'll have to find a nice straight road to try that out. Unfortunately, living inside the M25 makes it a little difficult to find somewhere safe enough to do it. Thanks for the update __________________ Kansalis Yellow 05 Furby vRS (Standard for now )

15-03-2005, 14:55	#16
Goodas Briskodian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: North West UK Posts: 727 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Lived in london for 3 years (was at uni there), but i'm a country boy at heart. Thought it would be funny if someone saw my braking antics....'look at that, rabbits must be out in force tonight' __________________ Corrida Red Fabia Vrs...now sold...new car...Blue Fiesta ST150

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