Brakes feel weaker

[AcID ZeR0]

Okay I think my Clio has got bored of fuel consumption problems and now the brakes feel diffrent.
When the engines not on the pedal is hard, It was actually my Dad who brought it to my attention when he borrowed the car. they seem unresponsive unless you push the pedal down quiet far.
Does that indicate new pads needed? If so how much is this going to cost me, the rear is drum brakes, rusted drum brakes at that lol.

 

[Lunner]

Pedal is hard when the engine is off, this is becasue the master cylinder isn't working, this is the same on 99.9% of cars.

Does the pedal feel songy atall under heavy braking, if so this culd mean that the fluid needs bleeding.

As the pads wear down the oedal shouldn't travel any further, check the brake fluid level too.

You won't be abler to tell if the brake drums are rusted, as the shoes sit inside them and brake on the outside surface.

Check the pads visually, can do this from the top of the caliper, and if you are clever, wiht the wheels on, IIRC min thickness is to the tune of a few mm.

Pads for a mk1 clio, for pagids from GSf are £30, even less for normal pads from GSF.

If the pads are not worn right down, and the pedal is not spongy, and the brakes are still braking opk i woudln't worry about it, my brake pedal has got loads of travel in it compared to my mum's megane, i've had all new brakes and new brake fluid which is fully bled, i guess its just one of those things

 

[AcID ZeR0]

Still brakes fine yeah but where as I used to be able to lightly brake by pressing the pedal down about half way now I have to put more force on it.

 

[AcID ZeR0]

Also there is a squeal during breaking.

 

[Lunner]

Squeel or grinding?

Grinding indicatesthe pads are on teh metal backing.

My guess woudl be eather air int eh system, or buggered pads/discs

 

[AcID ZeR0]

Squeel, how does air get into the system. Do you reckon it'd cost a lot for a garage to overhall the whole braking system?

 

[Lunner]

Yes, a firtune, there is so much you can do, take off and overhaul the claipers, replace brake lines, atleast 2 ltrs of fliud etc etc etc.

not sure how air gets in the system tbh

 

[AcID ZeR0]

I'll check the pads in daylight tommorow but I did put my hand round the brake disc, there is a slight lip at the end of it to indicate a bit of wear but from a non mechanical view I'd say they're not too badly worn.

 

[Lunner]

Slight lip is nothign to worry about, most garage will look at it from free, or a few quid

 

[Leeshez]

My brakes have done 6K and when i borrowed a megane they seemed to be sharper than mine. The megane is old and more miles on the clock.

 

[Lunner]

Must be meganes then, my mum's you just ahve to touch the pedal and they bite straight away

 

[AcID ZeR0]

Okay took the front wheel off the brake pads are fine, about the same width as the brake disc loads of meat left on them, brake fluid is near the top too.
Anything else I can check?