Brakes randomly failed :s

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RichM

RichM

Well-Known Member
Posts
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Location
UK
Today as I came off the motorway slip road my brakes failed and would not stop the car. (dry weather) Everything else felt normal, except for the fact I could feel very little braking action. It's a good job the handbrake is pretty good else I would have been f*cked. After that though, it seemed fine. I checked the brake fluid and that's also fine.

Any ideas?

Rich
 
sounds like brake fade
ie when the brakes got very hot the brake fluid can boil and wont work as effective or at all
have you got a sticking caliper???
 
Danny. said:
sounds like brake fade
ie when the brakes got very hot the brake fluid can boil and wont work as effective or at all
have you got a sticking caliper???
Click to expand...

Dunno about the caliper but I did have to brake fairly hard about a mile before leaving the motorway because the person in front of me slowed right down. Perhaps that has something to do with it?
 
So basically I will just have to keep in mind that it doesn't take much to boil the brake fluid in a Freelander and that if I don't be nice to her, it might decide to try and kill me... God, what a stressy Hippo!!

I used to abuse my brakes all the time in my good old BMW 3 Series, yet the poor thing never complained once! I miss that car!
 
Or lack of sevo assistance?

Does it eventually stop if you stand hard on the brake pedal?
 
Grippa said:
Get another one then...........they're just as good off road.



:D
Click to expand...

That's why I got a Freelander, and the only reason too!

vee8 said:
Or lack of sevo assistance?

Does it eventually stop if you stand hard on the brake pedal?
Click to expand...

Well I didn't have time to conduct a thorough test but my initial reaction was "F*CKKKKKKKKKKK. is this thing gonna stop?!" At which point, I resorted to my handbrake.
 
I still stand on brake fade
And it shouldn't happen unless your on them hard a lot
As for a BMW being as good off road well I won't even go there
 
It has been known for the Vacuum Pump to develop a fault, which give a lack of servo assistance giving same symptoms as brake fade.
 
How long since the brake fluid was changed?

Old brake fluid can be lethal as the proportion of water absorbed over time can be very high causing boiling of the fluid at relatively low temperatures ie moderate braking.
 
Has the brake fluid ever been changed? it deteriorates over time resulting in sometimes horrific brake fade due to boiling!
The other thing is if there is some braking action available then it could be a problem with your servo- not assisting you enough to slap your anchors on!
 
RichM said:
Today as I came off the motorway slip road my brakes failed and would not stop the car. (dry weather) Everything else felt normal, except for the fact I could feel very little braking action. It's a good job the handbrake is pretty good else I would have been f*cked. After that though, it seemed fine. I checked the brake fluid and that's also fine.

Any ideas?

Rich
Click to expand...
sounds like sticky calliper leading to brake fade to me
 
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