Brake Failure (Ish)

[bondo 6]

Just driving back from the MOT test (passed with advisory re nail in rear tyre and one exhaust manifold bolt sheared causing minor exhaust gas leak).

 

Happy with that BUT when I brake the pedal goes to the floor. It regains with a couple of pumps but clearly a safety issue and It won't be driven again until fixed.

 

Most of the brake lines have been replaced but the hoses are original. There is no loss of fluid - still on max and no sign of leakage.

 

I am thinking some servo or brake master cylinder problem but nothing is obvious.

 

Where do I start looking? anyone got any ideas?

[Tom Fenton 1,540]

Double check round for external fluid leaks first, from a pipe/union/caliper/wheel cylinder. If there is no external sign of fluid leaking then odds on its the brake master cylinder failed, a common fault on the 205 as they get older, remove the old one, file it directly in the bin, purchase a new one for around 40 groats, fit it, bleed up, job is a carrot.

[bondo 6]

Lol ! . That's pretty much what I thought. i have never had one go on me before -VERY disconcerting.

 

Wouldn't mind betting it was the MOT guys jumping on the pedal looking for bulging hoses and the like that saw it off.

[Tom Fenton 1,540]

Yep it is not nice. You could be right that the MOT lads finished it off, but if they did it was only a matter of time before it was going to crap out on you anyway.

To be honest I now recommend to people that if they buy a 205 and the master cylinder looks original, with no history of it having been replaced, to consider doing it as a matter of course. They are not dear, and the alternative is possibly a smashed up car or worse!

[bondo 6]

Ahh does Miles still sell the braided hoses that actually fit - might add those to the list.

 

(however -and this is no criticism of his products)- I recently fitted one of his excellent gear rod sets. trying to put the lock pins in the little holes required the eyesight of an eagle and the steady hand of a teetotaller. (I don't win any prizes in either category).

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

Only buy a Bendix master cylinder, most others are cr*p, same fitment on a mk2 16v Golf, brake lines I only sell GTi6 front pipes, I can get std ones but your looking around £135.00 for a set of 6 on a 1.9

[bondo 6]

Ok I'll just use standard hoses when I am in there. They should come off easy enough as the hard lines were done 2 years ago.

I am going to change the front discs and pads and the rear drums and shoes.

 

Driving without brakes is unnerving but not as dangerous as having Pirelli P6000's all round (which i have just sacked off at the earliest possible opportunity). tyre bloke is saying 'there's loads left in these' but they had to go.

 

i'll get a proper Bendix M/c.

 

Btw your gear rods are works of art. The difference is amazing.

 

Thanks

Edited June 19, 2012 by bondo

[Stevo309 0]

The master cylinder on a Volvo failed on me once as i approached a roundabout at about 50. The pedal literally hit the floor with no resistance. Luckily there was no traffic and i had time to smack it down through the gears. Getting the car home with no brakes using only the handbrake was scary.

 

If it was the mot guys that finished off they did you a favour.

[bondo 6]

Right I have installed the MC. Problem is that I had thought I had got all the air our of it but clearly not. Anyone got any advice re bleeding the MC on the vehicle. I was going to get son to push the brake pedal 75% down and open a brake line where it connects to the MC to expel any trapped air - close the line and repeat for the other (two) lines. I was then going to pressure bleed at the wheels (again).

 

Would a Gaviscon tablet in the reservoir work as that is meant to fix trapped wind?