’01 D2 with multiple issues I’m sorting through. Brakes have pressure but barely stop the car at startup for about 5 mins. Then brakes work sort of ok rest of the day (most of the time I’m double pumping just in case though.) is this a modulator issue? I have no brake warning lights on at all. Fluid is all the way up to full. If it’s the modulator how hard is that of a job? I googled my issue and the only thing that came up like my issue was on a P38 and people said it was the accumulator failing. I couldn't find that the Discos have an accumulator. Thanks!

 

Could be your Master cylinder, any indications of a leak underneath the fluid container

 

Nope, no leaks. It's very weird.

 

Sounds like the seals are gone in the master. Fluid won't leak, but won't give you full pressure to the outlets. Could also be leaking into the booster, that's fairly common.

 

You wouldn't happen to be running ceramic brake pads?
After I stopped daily driving mine they were worthless for the first couple stops and than they were just OK.
Swapped the pads for regular organic pads and they have been fine since.
My rig also sits for a while between uses and the rotors do sometimes have slight surface rust on them.

 

Does it still stop but you have lost the power assist? Try pressing the brake pedal really hard. If so, start by looking at the vacuum line going to the booster. Not sure about Rovers but some cars accumulate moisture inside the booster and that can rust and/or freeze causing power assist loss for a few minutes at cold start. Only fix for that is replace the booster.

 

I'm mashing it hard and it feels like i'm trying to slow down a freight train even at 5 mph. I guess it technically does stop eventually.

 

I am going with master cylinder seals are failing, the bad news one day you will have no brakes so you need to get it resolved.

But simple test:

Start your Disco
Press the brake pedal - does it go almost to the floor with little or no resistance.
Pump the pedal a few times does the pedal firm up and have resistance

If so you have either a bunch of air in the system or bad seals (Usually the master cylinder) but it could be something else.

 

That was exactly how mine was.
And after a couple stops it got better.

I got to the point where I rode the brakes thru the neighborhood so I could stop at the corner and not fly out into the cross street.

 

Thats really strange. I don't know what pads were put on this rig as it was done before I got it.