Suspect rear brakes.

[Dave-at-home]

Having owned a 172 cup for 4 months now (but only driving it occasionally as it is the good lady's run around), I can't help feeling the brake performance is a little "iffy". They have never been what I would call effective given the capablity of the car. This I proved further yesterday by overshooting a traffic light under "spirited" driving - full braking effort applied and not even a hint of wheels locking up. Just an overshoot by about 3 metres .

When I bough the car, it came with a full MOT which suggests that all should be OK. There does not seem to be any deterioration in performance over the 4 months - just a general lack of braking performance. The pedal is nice and firm with no suggestion of air present.

So, after yesterdays sprint, I got the car home and the rear brakes were cool to the touch. Not a hint of friction build up and there seemed to be a covering of light corrosion which I would expect to be worn away in normal use. The fronts were nice and toasty as I would expect.

Does anyone have any experience of this? My next though train is to jack the rear end up, apply the brakes and do a rough and ready check to see if the brakes offer any resistance.

I have read a few stories of rear brak bias valve issues (not sure if the 172 cup has one or not).

Any help / experience / guidance will be greatly appreciayed.

Cheers!

 

[-J-]

The cup has very little braking to the rear so I would t be confident in saying as they were cool to the touch they were not working.

I would probably be looking at what your disc / pad combo is at the front.

How spirited we're you driving, potentially you could have suffered brake fade? Or just have really crap pads?

You could always get it put on your local MOT stations Brake bias rollers to check.

 

[Dave-at-home]

Thanks for the reply.

T'was fairly spirited, but my overshoot was only 2 miles into the journey so definatley no brake fade. I was alsoo thinking of dropping it down my local MOT station (got a guy there that will help me out). I thing new disc / pads might be the answer. Any suggestions from anyone?

 

[Tony Hunter]

You might have rubbish pads in the front, forget the rear, as they do just about nothing. You will be lucky to get the rust off them tbh.

​Yes it has a load valve, but it's not connected.

 

[-J-]

Dont bother changing the rears unless they are low and even then don't spend much on the rear set up, focus on the fronts. Discs I would be looking at Brembo HC's (Speak to G172 on here for best price) Pad wise all depends on budget, I personally rate DS2500 on my Cup although I do have a set of Pagid Blues to go on mine next but they are not what you would call cheap.