Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 02:39:43 +0100 From: Charles Christacopoulos <c.k.christacopoulos_removeme_nospamee.ac.uk> Subject: Re: '95 900SE brake issues
Hans L wrote: > Hi, > > I'm wondering if anyone can tell me what might be wrong with my brakes > on my auto '95 900SE(V6). The basic problem is that the brakes are very > low and very soft -- I have to push down quite a ways to get the car to > stop. I asked the dealership on a couple occasions about this, but was > told that "brakes are brand new & there's nothing wrong!" (and perhaps > they need to "wear in" ... but that was a few thousand miles ago now). > > So, I'd be happy to believe that, but the other day backing down a steep > driveway I was unable to hold the car using the brakes -- no matter how > hard I pushed. I had to use the hand brake to actually get the car to > stop rolling backwards. > > Also -- and perhaps this is unrelated -- I can't seem to engage the ABS. > I was trying a bit this evening to come to a very sudden stop. I'd go > about 40-45MPH & slam on the brakes but no squealing or ABS shudder, > just soft pedal and car slows quickly (but doesn't slam to a halt). Oh, > and last I looked (pretty recently) the brake fluid was at the right > level (certainly the problem has been there since I bought it 6 mo ago & > fluid level has been checked several times). I haven't owned this car > that long, so I don't know what was done to it. Clearly the brakes have > been serviced recently (pads are new). Perhaps they didn't bleed it > properly or something (what would be the symptoms of that?). > > Anyone have any suggestions of ways I can narrow it down? I'm gearing > up to bring it back to the dealership for the 90k service, so at worst > I'll have them look at it again then. It doesn't feel quite safe now, > knowing that i can't bring the car to a seatbelt-snapping halt. > > Thanks in advance! > Hans I don't know the effects of ABS but leaving that aside you can have a number of possible problems (in order of likelyhood): Air in the system ... which will result in a soft, long pedal. Try quickly pumping the pedal if it rises and gets harder there is air in the system. (You don't have to have the car moving to do this) Master cylinder is on its way out and its piston(s ?) is leaking. It means only a proportion of your braking gets through to the pads. This would also result in a soft long pedal. The only time I had one fail was doing the brakes on a classic 900 ... after pumping and pumping it eventually got to the floor. Contaminated disks (rotors) and/or pads. Would explain the car not stoping but you would have a normal (hard) pedal. ... all sorts of other things I can't think of. Try the first test and if it is not that then the problem is on the master cylinder. Regards Charles -- Please remove _removeme_ to reply. Work: http://www.somis.dundee.ac.uk/ Hobby: http://www.egothor.org/
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