Taxi 219

Is it me but when i put my foot down on the brake pedal when at a standstill idling i can slowly push my foot right down to the floor on the brake pedal.Is this right?
It has no leaks of fluid or any loss in the resevoir.Is it a vacum loss maybe? just seems weird.
If anyone can help or see if theres is like it then maybe you can let me know

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Paul

Lex Dysia

Master cylinder seals on the way out can cause this behaviour by allowing fluid to get pass the piston. Will not show any fluid loss but will reduce the pressure to the brake pads.

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KenONeill

It's not a servo problem; that would give you a harder, shorter (and heavier) pedal. I think it's one of an airlock, handbrake adjusters not (long h/b travel too if so) or the master cylinder seals.

Kjelli

I need some tips here too. I have excatly the same problem.
The brakes work fine, but the pedal goes almost to the end before the brakes really grips. The handbrake do also have alot of travel, thishas been adjusted but I still think the travel is too much.

Just had the car at the shop and they said the brakes were fine. Another shop told me some part had to be changed and they wanted almost 900£ for the job including the part, I said no thanks and went to the other shop who told me the brakes were fine.

Kjelli

KenONeill

Check that the handbrake adjusters are before doing anything else Kjelli. It means finding a guide or buying a Haynes, but the procedure is entirely DIYable.

cheezemonkhai

Worn out pads perhaps?

Don't forget the piston is on the inner face on the octy so the inner pad will probably wear quicker than the outer pad.

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Kjelli

Thanks, I will get this checked.
Do I understand correct that if the self adjusting function of the rear brakes are not working correctly, the total volume of fluid that goes into the braking system is too high and therefore results in excessive pedal movement.
As long as I get full pressure and the pedal do not give at full pressure, I can suspect the fault to be with the rear brakes?

Cheers
Kjelli

KenONeill

You've got the effect right, but the problem is that, if the adjusting mechanism doesn't hold the brake pads, they get knocked back into the calipers, and you have to pump more fluid to get the pads back into contact with the discs before they bite.

So effectively you'd get long initial travel, but if you applied the brakes again shortly after that first application, they'd probably be more or less ok.

Kjelli

Thanks for the reply.
Pumping the brake pedal does not help much, the travel stays the same (long).

Cheers
Kjelli

KenONeill

That looks like either air locks (Octy with ABS needs a special bleeding technique, not the usual "work towards the servo" one, the flexible hydraulic lines swelling under pressure (in which case change garages; the cowboys who said the brakes were fine are not to be trusted), or a master cylinder fault to me.

The other possibility would be if you're applying an unfair test; everything else feels long travel for a bit if your last car was a Hydropneumatic Citroen!

Kjelli

Hehe, I know what you mean when talking about the citros. I have had several of those, loved every one one them. Far from perfect but they all got their own personality.

I will find the fault, I'll take it apart myself if I have to. I'll post back when I know whats wrong. This has not suddenly happend, it has gotten worse over 2 years, despite several brake shifts.

Thanks for all the valuable tips.

Cheers
Kjelli

JRHartley

My moneys on Master cylinder seals ...

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KenONeill

And according to Haynes' (was looking at brakes in respect of my twanging noise, check other threads from last 2 days), the master cylinder needs replacing; no repair parts available.

mbames

interesting....

My Octy does what Taxi says, but I have had my master cyclinder replaced, and the last brake fluid change was done at a Skoda Dealer (after I got air into the ABS system )

That said I guess I should be considering another brake fluid change shortly.

cheezemonkhai

Try the halfords DOT5.1 fluid if you want a little more solid peddle IMHO.

There are others that are even better but for road use that will be more than fine.

Check all your pads too as that will five longer travel.

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TKW

Do you experience significantly longer travel with worn pads? I don't think I have, and I can't really see why it would cause this.

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KenONeill

No. Based on having owned a car from new until I did wear out the OEM pads.

cheezemonkhai

Depends on the car, but I've noticed it increase on some cars. Not hugely, but enough to notice.

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Cars make CO2 and trees absorb CO2. By driving your car you're feeding a tree and helping the environment.