Dangerous Brake Failure
#1
Dangerous Brake Failure
Hello one and all, looking for some advice. I had a very scary moment with my face lift Discovery2 the other day. I'm new to Landrover ownership and while I love the car this problem scared the crap out of me.
I'll try to explain as best as I can. While travelling down a long and very steep hill I dabbed the brakes three or four times. By the fifth dab the brake pedal was solid and I had ZERO brake. All this heading towards a junction. After taking my foot off the brake pedal for about 4 seconds I got the brake back.
Any ideas before this thing kills me?
The car has new pads, new caliper sliding pins, new discs all round and new brake fluid. I'm not overly impressed by the brakes when they are working and cant help but feel the performance of the brakes is being hindered by something. On closer inspection of the new rear discs it looks like not all of the disc is getting the full pressure of the pads as the outer half of the disc seems to get slightly corroded when left standing for a while. Not full on rusted but while the inner half of the disc is nice and shiny it seems the outer half of the disc is not as clean? Like its getting some pressure but not much?
Regards
Stinky Pants
I'll try to explain as best as I can. While travelling down a long and very steep hill I dabbed the brakes three or four times. By the fifth dab the brake pedal was solid and I had ZERO brake. All this heading towards a junction. After taking my foot off the brake pedal for about 4 seconds I got the brake back.
Any ideas before this thing kills me?
The car has new pads, new caliper sliding pins, new discs all round and new brake fluid. I'm not overly impressed by the brakes when they are working and cant help but feel the performance of the brakes is being hindered by something. On closer inspection of the new rear discs it looks like not all of the disc is getting the full pressure of the pads as the outer half of the disc seems to get slightly corroded when left standing for a while. Not full on rusted but while the inner half of the disc is nice and shiny it seems the outer half of the disc is not as clean? Like its getting some pressure but not much?
Regards
Stinky Pants
Last edited by Doctorsmudge; 12-09-2012 at 10:02 AM.
#2
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Denver, Colorado
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How mechanical are you, how many miles on the truck, and by brand what pads and rotors did you install? Do you have any or the 4 brake warning lights on?
As for your question, Disco brake systems pump up and although it is common for the brakes to stop faster on the second pump, I have never heard of or experienced what you have described.
As for your question, Disco brake systems pump up and although it is common for the brakes to stop faster on the second pump, I have never heard of or experienced what you have described.
#3
Brand
Hi Mike,
I couldnt tell you what brand they are, nothing special like Brembo I hasten to add though. The truck as 85K on it and hasn't had a hard life. All in all the new brake equipment has done about 1000 miles at most on.
Far from getting better as you pump they get worse until four or five pumps later you have nothing and a solid pedal that doesn't depress at all? I thought maybe something to do with the vacuum chamber as it seems to recharge if you leave the pedal alone for a few secs As for mechanical aptitude, a bit, nothing too serious though.
None of the usual suspects (three amigos) or any other fault lights on dash.
See link. LAND ROVER Problems - 2001 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II Problems & Complaints - ODI #10212102
Cheers
I couldnt tell you what brand they are, nothing special like Brembo I hasten to add though. The truck as 85K on it and hasn't had a hard life. All in all the new brake equipment has done about 1000 miles at most on.
Far from getting better as you pump they get worse until four or five pumps later you have nothing and a solid pedal that doesn't depress at all? I thought maybe something to do with the vacuum chamber as it seems to recharge if you leave the pedal alone for a few secs As for mechanical aptitude, a bit, nothing too serious though.
None of the usual suspects (three amigos) or any other fault lights on dash.
See link. LAND ROVER Problems - 2001 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II Problems & Complaints - ODI #10212102
Cheers
Last edited by Doctorsmudge; 12-09-2012 at 10:54 AM.
#5
Hi Mike,
I couldnt tell you what brand they are, nothing special like Brembo I hasten to add though. The truck as 85K on it and hasn't had a hard life. All in all the new brake equipment has done about 1000 miles at most on.
Far from getting better as you pump they get worse until four or five pumps later you have nothing and a solid pedal that doesn't depress at all? I thought maybe something to do with the vacuum chamber as it seems to recharge if you leave the pedal alone for a few secs As for mechanical aptitude, a bit, nothing too serious though.
Cheers
I couldnt tell you what brand they are, nothing special like Brembo I hasten to add though. The truck as 85K on it and hasn't had a hard life. All in all the new brake equipment has done about 1000 miles at most on.
Far from getting better as you pump they get worse until four or five pumps later you have nothing and a solid pedal that doesn't depress at all? I thought maybe something to do with the vacuum chamber as it seems to recharge if you leave the pedal alone for a few secs As for mechanical aptitude, a bit, nothing too serious though.
Cheers
#9
If the brake fluid used is not the right dot# (not compatible), it will swell and seize the master cylinder piston. I did that mistake once on a ''76 Maverick and the brake acted exactly like you described:
The car would brake once, and the more you push the brake pedal, the less brake you get to end up with absolutely no brake at all. Yes, it was scary.
François
The car would brake once, and the more you push the brake pedal, the less brake you get to end up with absolutely no brake at all. Yes, it was scary.
François
#10
You mentioned new "caliper sliding pins"? You must be refering to caliper "guid pins"? In any event is it possible that the calipers themselves are going? Maybe one of the pistons is not working properly. Either that or maybe the pads were not installed properly. Thats the only thing I can think of which would cause the rotors to look the way you described them.