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Model specific boards => Golf mk4 => Topic started by: bobbarley on 26 May 2011, 21:02

Title: Brakes - Crap and spongey as f*ck
Post by: bobbarley on 26 May 2011, 21:02
Okay dokey, brakes have been rubbish for a while now, and I really need to get them sorted out.  There's a lot of travel on the brakes when the pedal is pushed, well over half way until they come on.  When they do engage there's no bite like on standard mk4 brakes.  Rears are totally standard, fronts are upgraded 312mm's with EBC discs and pads.  I had the fluid changed last year by VW.  I've checked and there's no leaking.  When I slam the brake pedal hard and quickly it sounds like air wheezing out.

I'm not sure what else it could be so am open to suggestions?  Brake cylinder or something (don't know what I'm talking about) maybe?  :undecided:
Title: Re: Brakes - Crap and spongey as f*ck
Post by: new to vw on 26 May 2011, 21:34
Check the cap and the rubber seal on it on the brake master cylinder..
Title: Re: Brakes - Crap and spongey as f*ck
Post by: bobbarley on 26 May 2011, 23:06
Assuming to check the master cylinder I'm going to have to take it out and remove all the brake fluid?  :undecided:
Title: Re: Brakes - Crap and spongey as f*ck
Post by: tech1889 on 27 May 2011, 00:02
have you re-bled them mate.. maybe try bleeding the master cylinder as most people when changing fluid on the mk4 blled the callipers and not the master cylinder which 'must' be bled or you will get crappy spongey peddle
Title: Re: Brakes - Crap and spongey as f*ck
Post by: bobbarley on 27 May 2011, 08:18
Sounds complicated!
Title: Re: Brakes - Crap and spongey as f*ck
Post by: tech1889 on 27 May 2011, 09:28
Don't be a tart lol
Title: Re: Brakes - Crap and spongey as f*ck
Post by: nadlad on 27 May 2011, 11:56
use a ezi bleed start from the back left, back righ,t front passenge,r front drivers and then do the cylinder last.

when i did mine theres two valves on the cylinder and for the amount fo time it take to take the rubber hose off and tighten the nut up i wudnt worry about air getting in.


alternatively use vag com and it will turn the abs pump and  push all the air to the master cylinder

ezi bleed ftw
Title: Re: Brakes - Crap and spongey as f*ck
Post by: houston on 27 May 2011, 12:01
if it was bled last year by vw then id say it was done right last time. have you been checking your fluid levels?

Title: Re: Brakes - Crap and spongey as f*ck
Post by: Steve_PD on 27 May 2011, 12:27
Don't be a tart lol

 :grin: :grin: :grin:

Title: Re: Brakes - Crap and spongey as f*ck
Post by: johnson6672 on 28 May 2011, 13:00
Ezee bleed all the way i had dramas with mine and steve pd's cars when bleeding the brakes, now got ezzee bleed and is simple just follow the guide in the maint section.
Although does sound dodgy do you know how to check the servo?
Title: Re: Brakes - Crap and spongey as f*ck
Post by: bobbarley on 28 May 2011, 13:13
The guide in the maintenance section might as well have been written in Arabic, and the pictures are completely useless!  :grin:

Fluid levels are fine.
Title: Re: Brakes - Crap and spongey as f*ck
Post by: johnson6672 on 28 May 2011, 13:21
What about the servo?
Title: Re: Brakes - Crap and spongey as f*ck
Post by: bobbarley on 28 May 2011, 13:54
I don't even know a servo is  :grin:
Title: Re: Brakes - Crap and spongey as f*ck
Post by: johnson6672 on 28 May 2011, 14:22
Its the bit that assists the master cylinder in appyling your breaks, if i remeber correctly with the engine off apply the break, start the engine and the peddle should drop a little, if it goes to the floor theres a problem, i think thats the correct sequence anyway
Title: Re: Brakes - Crap and spongey as f*ck
Post by: bobbarley on 28 May 2011, 14:26
Ahh I seeeee.  Thanks I'll give it a try, no harm in it!
Title: Re: Brakes - Crap and spongey as f*ck
Post by: vw-8v on 28 May 2011, 14:29
servo is the big round bowl looking part on the bulk head behind master cylinder but b4 you start replacing parts(like i did) i would redo the bleeding as previously said master cylinder last if u don't want to do it i think my local garage charged 35 quid. if no joy then take it from there.
Title: Re: Brakes - Crap and spongey as f*ck
Post by: bobbarley on 28 May 2011, 18:01
Its the bit that assists the master cylinder in appyling your breaks, if i remeber correctly with the engine off apply the break, start the engine and the peddle should drop a little, if it goes to the floor theres a problem, i think thats the correct sequence anyway

Tried it.  Pedal drops all the way to the floor  :sad:
Title: Re: Brakes - Crap and spongey as f*ck
Post by: richw911 on 28 May 2011, 21:48
Take it to vw get the fluid changed and they will bleed it properly job done  :cool:

IIRC it costs £35  :undecided:
Title: Re: Brakes - Crap and spongey as f*ck
Post by: tech1889 on 29 May 2011, 09:11
£45 at mine  :smiley:
Title: Re: Brakes - Crap and spongey as f*ck
Post by: Wayne on 29 May 2011, 21:26
Take it to vw get the fluid changed and they will bleed it properly job done  :cool:

This, they are not easy to bleed.
Title: Re: Brakes - Crap and spongey as f*ck
Post by: bobbarley on 30 May 2011, 09:56
VW did it last time, they were still all spongey.
Title: Re: Brakes - Crap and spongey as f*ck
Post by: opel on 30 May 2011, 10:42
not saying it the fault but my missus car brakes were really rubbish. so i bled them up but there were still no better. i found that it needed new washer in between the caliper and the flexi pipe on the rear calipers as the old washers has correded away and would say it was dragging air in
Title: Re: Brakes - Crap and spongey as f*ck
Post by: richw911 on 30 May 2011, 12:38
VW did it last time, they were still all spongey.

Why didnt you take it back?
Title: Re: Brakes - Crap and spongey as f*ck
Post by: bobbarley on 30 May 2011, 13:00
VW did it last time, they were still all spongey.

Why didnt you take it back?

I didn't know any different.  I only got the fluid changed because they rung and asked when doing the air con, said they'd do it all in for £100 so I thought sod it, probably needs doing.
Title: Re: Brakes - Crap and spongey as f*ck
Post by: richw911 on 30 May 2011, 13:08
VW did it last time, they were still all spongey.

Why didnt you take it back?

I didn't know any different.  I only got the fluid changed because they rung and asked when doing the air con, said they'd do it all in for £100 so I thought sod it, probably needs doing.

Sounds like it wasnt done correctly first time around then, as said they can be a pain to bleed.