AX Brakes

timbo · Unread post by **timbo** » 11 Aug 2004, 02:43

While changing the starter motor noticed the front discs are very worn
could this be that the rear brake cylinder/ compenstor thingys are not working.how can i check their ok,there is a lot of pedal travel ?
Tim

uhn113x · Unread post by **uhn113x** » 11 Aug 2004, 13:03

Tim
Front discs do wear on any car. Just replace them and the pads. Excessive pedal travel can be due to a number of reasons - has it always been so, appeared gradually or suddenly?
Does the pedal 'pump up'? Is it spongy? Has it still excess travel if the handbrake is on?

jeremy · Unread post by **jeremy** » 11 Aug 2004, 15:56

I would start with new discs and pads and see if that makes any difference. I did them on our ZX 1.9D and when taking them off thought 'Why am I bothering - they're not that bad!' but was absolutely amazed at the difference.
The back brake adjusting mechanism has probably seized and may not be much of a fun job. people tend to try and adjust the back brakes using the handbrake cable adjusters which is not correct, and while it can produce a tight handbrake may cause other problems. If self adjusters are fitted they should be nice and free and occasionally tighten up the handbrake by a noticeable amount.
Other causes of slack pedal could be knackered master cylinder with an internal leak between the two circuits or air in the system.
Sometimes if you put a load in the back of a car you can feel the back brakes coming on when they would not normally do so with the car unladen. This is only possible when the return springs are relatively soft (by design)and is only noticeable on very gentle braking. What you notice as some retardation without the front dipping. Increasing the pressure then produces dipping at the front as the front brakes begin to work. Fooling load sensitive valves is not easy but if you have an external one operated by a spring linkage you may be able to persuade it to woperate by jacking up the appropriate bit of suspension.
Finally a word of caution. I expect your car has a diagonally split braking system. If a back brake sticks and the brake overheats it can boil the fluid especially if its old. This then renders that circuit inoperative and with luck you are left with one circuit. Leave the handbrake on - guess what happens! It happened to me ona renault 21, I pulled up and found a back brake smoking away quite happily so I chucked some water over it and went and had a cup of tea while it cooled. The fluid condensed and all seemed fine for a very gentle journey home before stripping the brakes and sorting out the self adjusters.
jeremy

phil02 · Unread post by **phil02** » 11 Aug 2004, 16:01

My AX always had a lot of brake pedal travel for which it failed an MOT - new calipers, pads and disks failed to change that although braking performance was somewhat improved. I was amazed when I took it in for a service at a different garage later in the year and it turned out the brakes were still so bad they scared the living daylights out of the mechanic - I'd got used to them and didn't really notice. He adjusted the travel on the brake pedal (I have to be honest, I'm not sure how) and the difference was little short of a miracle.
Phil

Unread post by **cheesesliceking** » 11 Aug 2004, 18:04

Im not sure if you mean they have worn more than you expected or they have worn in a perculiar way? all discs/pads do wear.
The brakes onthe AX aren't brilliant so anything you can do to make them better is advisable[:D]