Brake Problem..?

M3ACS · 18-01-2009, 04:41 PM

Hi

My CSL has APs all round, and over the past ten months have performed awesome without fault.

However over the past week ive noticed what feels like brake fade even in normal driving, this is constant and even around town and not just on spirited runs.

Ive checked the pads - Plenty of meat!
Discs - Look fine!

Brake Fluid - There's fluid in there, although it looks a little pail at the top and darker nearer the bottom unsure if this means anything..

Anyhow in addition to this ive just washed the car, really cleaned the wheels as they were really dirty - Will come back to this point

After the wash went for a little drive, just come back home and the wheels are filthy as if the brakes have leaked every where..

Touched the brakes they look fine just got a load of brownish liquid on them as do the wheels.

So im confused as to what the problem is, can anyone help?

Im keen to resolve ASAP as im due at Cadwell soon

_Nathan_ · 18-01-2009, 04:57 PM

Does it feel like pad fade or fluid fade?

Pad fade - solid pedal but no braking
Fluid fade - pedal goes soft

Might just be you've boiled the brake fluid or get air in the system.

If you suspect fluid is leaking from a calliper then personally i would bleed the brakes and ensure the bleed nipples are done up properly. Unlikely it'd be leaking from all 4 wheels though? More likely that is just water from where you washed it mixed with brake dust or whatever.

First port of call IMO is a fluid change - sounds knackered anyway.

Windowlicker · 18-01-2009, 05:26 PM

Shite all over the wheels combined with poor pedal /braking force would suggest a leak somewhere dude.
Have you checked the banjo fitments on the back of the calipers (where the hose bolts to the caliper basically) this may have worked loose though it shouldnt as the Ap's have raised lips for the banjo to sit in so it cant rotate when its nipped up.
The banjo bolt could be loose or the hose to banjo fitment damaged somehow.
Also check inner and outer bleed nipples are tight obviously.
Get it sorted asap before you hit someone/something and also shaft the paint on the wheels and calipers and any where else the wheels may fling it (car paintwork)
Plus if its leaking very badly and the fluid gets all over the pads it will contaminate them and ruin those also.

Nords · 18-01-2009, 06:41 PM

Is the 'muck' over all four discs or just one?

_Nathan_ · 18-01-2009, 07:05 PM

Window licker - all 4 at once is the thing that confused me with that? Unless he has upset someone :D

PS. Don't overtighten the banjo bolts or you will shear them, I had to drive around with one rear AP and one standard calliper for a day until I got a new bolt!

Nords · 18-01-2009, 07:43 PM

Wasn't obvious was it. Very strange that all four are doing it! Get a mechanic to check it out, it could get worse without warning...

Windowlicker · 18-01-2009, 08:03 PM

He hasnt actually stated that it is all 4 wheels, but..... i just had a thought, after washing my car recently, i didnt straightaway go for a quick spin to clean the discs off , before the surface rust took hold.
I went for a blast a bit later and combined with the water sat in the wells of the wheels, i got back to find a toffee coloured mess all over the insides of the wheels and leaking out onto the edge.
It was basically a mix of water and the rust dust from the rotors and it looked like toffee suace not just coloured water if that makes sense.
Could it maybe have been that.
Which if so , doesnt account for the odd brake feel.

_Nathan_ · 18-01-2009, 08:15 PM

"and the wheels are filthy as if the brakes have leaked every where.. "

Certainly more than one of them

If the fluid is dark it might be knackered, changing the fluid every couple of months costs nothing so no hardship to change it now and see if that sorts it?

M3ACS · 18-01-2009, 08:29 PM

The fronts are really dirty! The rears less so..

So all four wheels are dirty

This was just an observation that may be related to the poor pedal feeling.

Im going to get the car booked in tomorrow, hopefully nothing too costly

Thanks for the responses guys will keep you updated.

Windowlicker · 18-01-2009, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Nathan_

"and the wheels are filthy as if the brakes have leaked every where.. "

Certainly more than one of them

If the fluid is dark it might be knackered, changing the fluid every couple of months costs nothing so no hardship to change it now and see if that sorts it?

Could be 2 could be 4 could be 3

who knows

and what do you use for brake fluid?? water , cos i know for sure that srf and similar costs a small fortune for the actual quantity you get

If it were rust and water related then the fronts would be dirtier than the rears, though the same could be said if it were fluid too

18-01-2009, 04:41 PM	#1
M3ACS S3 - On the open road Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 91 Casino cash: $567	Brake Problem..? Hi My CSL has APs all round, and over the past ten months have performed awesome without fault. However over the past week ive noticed what feels like brake fade even in normal driving, this is constant and even around town and not just on spirited runs. Ive checked the pads - Plenty of meat! Discs - Look fine! Brake Fluid - There's fluid in there, although it looks a little pail at the top and darker nearer the bottom unsure if this means anything.. Anyhow in addition to this ive just washed the car, really cleaned the wheels as they were really dirty - Will come back to this point After the wash went for a little drive, just come back home and the wheels are filthy as if the brakes have leaked every where.. Touched the brakes they look fine just got a load of brownish liquid on them as do the wheels. So im confused as to what the problem is, can anyone help? Im keen to resolve ASAP as im due at Cadwell soon

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18-01-2009, 04:57 PM	#2
_Nathan_ Driving it like I nicked it Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 2,099 Casino cash: $13060	Does it feel like pad fade or fluid fade? Pad fade - solid pedal but no braking Fluid fade - pedal goes soft Might just be you've boiled the brake fluid or get air in the system. If you suspect fluid is leaking from a calliper then personally i would bleed the brakes and ensure the bleed nipples are done up properly. Unlikely it'd be leaking from all 4 wheels though? More likely that is just water from where you washed it mixed with brake dust or whatever. First port of call IMO is a fluid change - sounds knackered anyway.

18-01-2009, 05:26 PM	#3
Windowlicker S4 - Getting the hang of it Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: York Posts: 174 Casino cash: $544	Shite all over the wheels combined with poor pedal /braking force would suggest a leak somewhere dude. Have you checked the banjo fitments on the back of the calipers (where the hose bolts to the caliper basically) this may have worked loose though it shouldnt as the Ap's have raised lips for the banjo to sit in so it cant rotate when its nipped up. The banjo bolt could be loose or the hose to banjo fitment damaged somehow. Also check inner and outer bleed nipples are tight obviously. Get it sorted asap before you hit someone/something and also shaft the paint on the wheels and calipers and any where else the wheels may fling it (car paintwork) Plus if its leaking very badly and the fluid gets all over the pads it will contaminate them and ruin those also.

18-01-2009, 06:41 PM	#4
Nords S5, Sport Off, DSC M-track Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 527 Casino cash: $1272	Is the 'muck' over all four discs or just one?

18-01-2009, 07:05 PM	#5
_Nathan_ Driving it like I nicked it Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 2,099 Casino cash: $13060	Window licker - all 4 at once is the thing that confused me with that? Unless he has upset someone :D PS. Don't overtighten the banjo bolts or you will shear them, I had to drive around with one rear AP and one standard calliper for a day until I got a new bolt!

18-01-2009, 07:43 PM	#6
Nords S5, Sport Off, DSC M-track Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 527 Casino cash: $1272	Wasn't obvious was it. Very strange that all four are doing it! Get a mechanic to check it out, it could get worse without warning...

18-01-2009, 08:03 PM	#7
Windowlicker S4 - Getting the hang of it Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: York Posts: 174 Casino cash: $544	He hasnt actually stated that it is all 4 wheels, but..... i just had a thought, after washing my car recently, i didnt straightaway go for a quick spin to clean the discs off , before the surface rust took hold. I went for a blast a bit later and combined with the water sat in the wells of the wheels, i got back to find a toffee coloured mess all over the insides of the wheels and leaking out onto the edge. It was basically a mix of water and the rust dust from the rotors and it looked like toffee suace not just coloured water if that makes sense. Could it maybe have been that. Which if so , doesnt account for the odd brake feel.

18-01-2009, 08:15 PM	#8
_Nathan_ Driving it like I nicked it Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 2,099 Casino cash: $13060	"and the wheels are filthy as if the brakes have leaked every where.. " Certainly more than one of them If the fluid is dark it might be knackered, changing the fluid every couple of months costs nothing so no hardship to change it now and see if that sorts it?

18-01-2009, 08:29 PM	#9
M3ACS S3 - On the open road Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 91 Casino cash: $567	The fronts are really dirty! The rears less so.. So all four wheels are dirty This was just an observation that may be related to the poor pedal feeling. Im going to get the car booked in tomorrow, hopefully nothing too costly Thanks for the responses guys will keep you updated.