brakes are becoming useless

[jamesybear]

hey all

rescently ive been having trouble with my brakes not having much feel to them and some slight spongyness to them, so ive had them bled and the pads are stil fine, but for the last few days its felt like they are useless at stopping the car foot has to go down hard and far to get a reaction

any ideas what it might be?

 

[White16valver]

Probably freezing cold pads.

Get some heat in them and they should be better!

 

[Dim_Clio]

hey all
rescently ive been having trouble with my brakes not having much feel to them and some slight spongyness to them, so ive had them bled and the pads are stil fine, but for the last few days its felt like they are useless at stopping the car foot has to go down hard and far to get a reaction

any ideas what it might be?

I have exactly the feeling you described! Mine is a used clio 1.2 16V 2002 model and when I recently changed my tires I noticed that my brake disks are very worn. Probably my pads too!

 

[TimR26]

I've got the same problem, almost feels like the servo's gone, must be the cold weather.

 

[rich-6]

Worn disks?

 

[jamesybear]

checked discs and pads still got a bit to go on both not worn out or anything yet think its the cold as they've behaved abit better when it hasnt been as cold in the afternoons as in the mornins...

 

[mark123]

Are your sliders seized? Mine went rubbish when the sliders seized up.

 

[Jonny1*2]

i'm having similar problems with mine. Even when heat is in them. Is it normal to be able to push the brake pedal right to the floor? There is still plenty on the pads/discs

 

[Cupster]

Get someone, or yourself to check the caliper sliders aren't seized. This is exactly what I had. There are two on each front brake assembly and one had seized up on the drivers side. Make that your first check tbh.

I could not free mine so I bought a second hand caliper carrier and re greased both aswell as the passenger side and the brakes are peachy again now :approve:

 

[Jonny1*2]

could this cause the brakes to bind?

 

[daviebroon]

Is it normal to be able to push the brake pedal right to the floor?

lmfao... noooo

 

[daviebroon]

how many miles have your discs and pads been on for? Std reno discs are pretty poor and warp/glaze pretty easily.

If not, check calipers aren't siezed/siezing/boot isn't split

 

[Jonny1*2]

didn't think it was normal. its not all the time which suggests something isn't right. Boot? I've been getting wierd noises from my brakes also. pads and discs still have stuff on them.

 

[daviebroon]

caliper piston dust boot*

 

[Jonny1*2]

what do you suggest? bit of WD?

 

[daviebroon]

Undo brake fluid reservoir, take caliper off, inspect. Push dush covers back carefully, inspect to see if piston is rusty. If it looks ok, try pushing the piston back with the palm of your hand. It should be possible to move it back with a strong hand.

If its rock solid, its probably seized. TBH if you've not bled your brakes... do it, sounds like an airlock by being able to put the pedal to the floor every now and then

 

[Jonny1*2]

brakes were recently pressure bled at GDI which didn't make any difference. Will have an inspect of the calipers

 

[chrispy.clio]

Arrrr i'v just seen this thread. Just what i was looking for.
Nearly went into the back of someone today due to a slight lack of concentration and the fact that my brakes were shocking. Changed a caliper carrier as my had sezed a few months back, also put some Brembo Max and EBC Pads.
Must just be the super cold weather thats making them this bad.
Im off to milton keynes tomorrow so hopefully try get some heat into them