Xantia Brakes

scoles · Post by **scoles** » 14 Dec 2009, 10:55

Well hopefully this is the last of the niggley problems with my newly purchased Xantia.

Following it being off the road for a number of months due to timing belt snapping.

The previous owner had new discs and pads put on the front.

So driving it for the first time it feels like the ABS is constantly working vibrating the brake pedal very badly. also at the same time you can hear a intermittant grinding coming from the passenger side as if its gripping then releasing and so on.

I've had both wheels off and both disca had cleaned up perfectly dont appear to have any dirty areas gave them a spray down with brake cleaner.

There are no ABS lights.

Anyone have any ideas?

Cheers
Stuart

HDI · Post by **HDI** » 14 Dec 2009, 11:27

Sticking handbrake ? It operates on the front wheels.

lexi · Post by **lexi** » 14 Dec 2009, 12:08

Disconnect your abs by removing relay and then try it.

scoles · Post by **scoles** » 14 Dec 2009, 13:51

Sticking handbrake - i noticed it operated on the front wheels so i checked by jacking up and letting hand brake off and it rotated freely

Can you tell me where the ABS relay might be?

Its weird that absolutely no feeling is coming through the steering wheel but only the brake pedal.

I forgot to mention that when its juddering the brakes are very poor, almost non exsitant

Cheers
Stuart

lexi · Post by **lexi** » 14 Dec 2009, 16:12

There is a fuse/relay to abs pump in fuse box on N/S......Somewhere

It may be red herring but could eliminate a possibility. Have you driven car since PO put new Pads /discs on?. If not it could be run out on disc or fixings loose on caliper......maybe even sticky calipers.
I`ve also had totally wrong stuff put on by a PO.

Check also everything is connected up solidly round about Abs ECU which is in that fusebox area.. Check earth connections that you can see...some are on inner wing.

Is doseur valve ok ....no leaking?

DickieG · Post by **DickieG** » 14 Dec 2009, 17:35

scoles wrote:I forgot to mention that when its juddering the brakes are very poor, almost non exsitant

Is this at very slow speed i.e. just prior to stopping?

scoles · Post by **scoles** » 14 Dec 2009, 19:25

DickieG wrote:
scoles wrote:I forgot to mention that when its juddering the brakes are very poor, almost non exsitant
Is this at very slow speed i.e. just prior to stopping?

The weird thing is its usually better braking at low speeds and worse at higher speed.

The doesuer valve was mentioned above? can i ask what this is and where it is?

I will also check that everything is secure and tight

lexi · Post by **lexi** » 14 Dec 2009, 20:21

The doseur is a control valve that does a similar job to a conventional master/slave cylinder. It`s the stage after your brake pedal and gives fluid out to calipers from pressure built up in Hydraulic pump.

Post by **RichardW** » 15 Dec 2009, 10:02

Odds on this is the ABS playing up. Broken or mucky reluctor ring the probable cause. Pulling the fuse will stop the ABS 'working', and confirm the fault lies with the ABS. Might just be that the brake fitter was a bit over enthusiastic with the copper ease when fitting the new pads / dics and got some on the ring, but it may also have broken or just got gunged up while it was stood.

scoles · Post by **scoles** » 15 Dec 2009, 10:38

RichardW wrote:Odds on this is the ABS playing up. Broken or mucky reluctor ring the probable cause. Pulling the fuse will stop the ABS 'working', and confirm the fault lies with the ABS. Might just be that the brake fitter was a bit over enthusiastic with the copper ease when fitting the new pads / dics and got some on the ring, but it may also have broken or just got gunged up while it was stood.

Thanks for that something else to look into, i am pretty sure it is ABS related as thats what it feels like.

I will get the wheels off and have a good look at the reluctor ring.

Cheers
Stuart

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 15 Dec 2009, 11:25

When you start the car does the ABS light come on showing the bulb is working?
Some unscrupilous people remove it/blow it to hide an ABS fault to get it through the MoT rather than spend a bit of money and getting it sorted.

scoles · Post by **scoles** » 15 Dec 2009, 11:51

Xac wrote:When you start the car does the ABS light come on showing the bulb is working?
Some unscrupilous people remove it/blow it to hide an ABS fault to get it through the MoT rather than spend a bit of money and getting it sorted.

I am pretty sure that the ABS light does come on and go off again on start up.

One thing i did find strange, i accelerated the other day in the damp and it lost grip a tad, and a light appeared on the dash board orange in colour a cirlce with a little car going out of control.

It only popped on for a few moments then went out again.

Any ideas?

Stuart

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 15 Dec 2009, 12:40

That's the ABS light. A Lexia session would be the next move.

Post by **CitroJim** » 15 Dec 2009, 12:42

scoles wrote:and a light appeared on the dash board orange in colour a cirlce with a little car going out of control.

Yep, that's the ABS light.

Seems to me that the ABS is a bit dodgy. A Lexia check would be good and also, if not already mentioned, give the ABS sensor rings (the "Dragons Teeth"), especially on the fornt, a clean as muck and grease on them can upset their function.

scoles · Post by **scoles** » 15 Dec 2009, 12:48

Xac wrote:That's the ABS light. A Lexia session would be the next move.

Can someone expand on what lexia may be? is this a form of citroen diagnostics?

If so is it only citroen that can do this?

Cheers
Stuart