Knackered Brakes!

[goaferboy]

It appears that my brakes are knackered!

Fired up the Scirocco for the first time in a week or two and noticed the brakes were a bit weak. Never mind, it's probably because I'm used to my Polo, I thought. I soldiered on, but it still felt weaker than usual.

When I got to work, I thought I'd properly test them. They were still weak, but when I put my foot down as hard as I could, one of the wheels locked up. I'm fairly sure it was the front passenger side. The car pulled to the left anyway.

So has my drivers side just seized or is it something more sinister? What's the protocol to fix it? I just planned on twatting it with the wheel wrench until it came loose.

Cheers!

[ianaudia4]

Will your car move? Has one of the hoses on the front split/burst? I would suggest you strip the brakes down and clean up/replace parts if you haven't already and worthwhile changing the fluid as well.

[goaferboy]

The car moves fine, it just doesn't stop too well!

I've topped up the brake fluid, but it didn't really need any, so I guess I haven't got a leak? I think all I ended up doing was taking it from the minimum to the maximum level. I thought it was lower!

I had assumed that it was the drivers side front brake had seized open, but I jacked it up and span the wheel whilst someone else pressed the brake. The brake works, just really badly.

The brake pedal pretty much goes to the floor now.

[ianaudia4]

You have to ask yourself why it needed brake fluid, i would be checking for leaks. Have a look at the rear brake cylinders, very common for them to leak, if they need replacingthey are about a tenner. Definately worth spending some time checking the whole system and finally bleeding it.

[goaferboy]

You have to ask yourself why it needed brake fluid, i would be checking for leaks.

That's the thing, I don't think it did need any. I think it was sat just above the minimum level, I was just too blind to notice! I was looking out for a thick, coloured fluid. It really didn't take much to take it to the maximum.

My friend asked his brother who works at a VW garage and is quite into older VWs (had a Corrado IIRC) and he seems to think the master cylinder could be a bit knackered. He said something about the seal round the outside of the cylinder being knackered and preventing the cylinder from working properly.

It sounds about right to me. I've had a bit of a creaking/whining from the pedal when I press it for a while now and it seems worse recently. All the linkages work and all the brake lines I could see seem ok, although I'll have a proper look soon. There haven't been any wet patches under the car or anything. My garage has no marks on the floor and there weren't any under the car after I parked it at work for a few hours. I even pumped the brakes to try and force some out.


It's in for it's MOT soon, so I'll get the brakes bled along with the service. I'm fairly certain I'll replace the master cylinder as well. Even if it's not the cause, it's looking a bit tired. Are there better master cylinders that just bolt straight in? May as well upgrade it while I'm at it!

[Nate]

how many clicks does your handbrake have?

are the shoes and/or pads worn out?

are the pads 'glazed'? (nice easy fix, just go over them with some emery cloth on a flat surface to take the shine off)

i'm assuming it still has drums on the rear?

[goaferboy]

how many clicks does your handbrake have?

are the shoes and/or pads worn out?

are the pads 'glazed'? (nice easy fix, just go over them with some emery cloth on a flat surface to take the shine off)

i'm assuming it still has drums on the rear?

Handbrake is fairly tight. Couldn't say how many clicks it has, but it's the same as it has always been. Nothing has changed there.

The pads are lowish, but surely that wouldn't cause me to park it up with fine brakes one day, then suddenly have awful brakes next time I drive it?

Couldn't tell you if the pads are glazed or not. I haven't had chance to look at them yet.

Yup, rear drums.



Thanks for all the help so far guys!