spongey and then they're not! update 14/5/05

[JT 0]

hey, ok so recently when braking for a junction or slowing say 40+ the brakes seem to go spongey and the pedal travel increases release the pedal and brake again and it feels firmer straight away, the brakes still feel strong at all times just seems the pedal travel increases on a longer stop,

 

any ideas ???

 

master/c or just needs new fluid don't when it might have been last done, all pads are ok have pagid fast road on the front and gsf pads on the rear, have a new set of brembos for the front as the front disks could do with a change in the next 10 thou but it's not urgent !!!! should i be worried.....

[dr_mat 0]

Sounds like probably master cylinder I'm afraid.. Yes, you should be worried!

[JT 0]

is there anyway of testing it, as i have no idea what happens when the m/c goes, i tell ya that is just my luck at the moment i'm really starting to hate my car :mad: any ideas on the price of a new m/c and labour time....

[dr_mat 0]

It's possible the system just needs bleeding, or the fluid needs changing, but the fluid would have to be extraordinarily old to get soft-pedal problems on a 40mph stop. I mean, stopping from 100 or so will challenge the system, but stopping from 40 barely warms it up..

[JT 0]

well when i bought the car i had the mot done just over a month ago and the fluid needed topping up is there a chance that it could have just been topped up and may have had air blocks in it as a result, but surely it would have been the same since the mot !!!! do we reckon fitting the new front disks and have a the fluid changed and bled and see what happens or is that not a good idea, cheers for all your help!!! 8)

[dr_mat 0]

I'd say if it doesn't get any worse, yeah, go for a fluid change and full system bleed out (don't forget the ABS system)..

But if it gets worse it's very likely to be the MC - and you don't wanna find out that's what it is at high speed coming up to a corner!

[Joe M 0]

Check your wheel bearings are ok and the rears are properly adjusted. Sounds like the disks may be moving about a bit causing the pads to get pushed apart, press it once the pads move back to disk, press again immediately and the pedal is firm. Drive about a bit and the disks push the pads apart again causing the soft pedal again...

[Henny 0]

sounds to me like a classic case of shitty brake fluid... Get it changed for some DOT5.1 and bled through properly and I'll lay odds that it's a shed load better...

[JT 0]

really, i would be well chuffed if that was the case, so dot 5.1 i have some new brembo's for the front with some pagid f/r pads will get those done at the same time, i have had a look through my folder/ or should i say folders of hstory and there seems to be no record of the fluid being changed since 94...

[dr_mat 0]

Since NINETY FOUR?!

It's in the service schedule every two years!

[JT 0]

well just had another look and the last time the brake fluid change was ticked was back in 95 actually, but i can't believe that is the case as the last guy worked at bmw but still gonna get it booked in right now i hate when you miss things you thought you checked when you buy a car anyways cheers for your help guys...

[JT 0]

well just got a qoute from ats 35 incl for a full change but that is with lucas dot 4 what do we think

[Henny 0]

go to halfords, get 2 litres of their "performance DOT5.1" brake fluid and tell ATS to use that instead and just charge you for the labour... ;)

[JT 0]

nice idea will do 8)

[pp137 0]

Hi i have the same problem with my brakes, turns out to be the master cylinder. I am having it replaced tomorrow and its gonna cost £216 altogether. Thing is i know my wheel bearings are gone too so i will need to get these changed!!!! I had my brake system bled and it didn't solve the problem with the brakes so i would get it checked out asap if i was you!!! HTH

 

Pink$

[JT 0]

so, got the car back from ats with the diadnosis, m/c is on its way out which is'nt really a problem 36 quid from gsf but oh no thats not all apperantly the rear brake compensater is leaking too and they won't touch it and reckon it's a vag job !!!!

 

can anyone shed some light on the best way to get this sorted as my local vag is a f***ing rip off at the best of times..

 

oh the joys of old cars really loosing my patience now...... it's an ever growing list of reciepts at the moment..... but thumbs up again for ats they did all this within an hour of dropping of the car and fixed a rubber on the exhaust that had snapped off for free, happy with that....

[dr_mat 0]

Rear brake compensator is hardly tricky... Theoretically you need a "special tool" to reset it when it gets replaced, but most VW specialists can handle that sort of thing with no worries..

[JT 0]

nice thats the answer i was after only things is euro car parts of gsf don't seem to list on there websites will give em a ring on monday anyone have any ideas on what they cost...

[dr_mat 0]

About £70, iirc.

[Matty Newquay 0]

I know this thread is super old!

But how hard is it to change the master cylinder???

I'm pretty good at doing most things but never tried this???

Cheers!