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Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: paul7278 on 02 June 2011, 20:26

Title: help with brakes please!!
Post by: paul7278 on 02 June 2011, 20:26
Right ive been helping my bro to try and sort the s**t  brake pedal on his m3 16v with abs. The brake pedal is really soft and has alot of travel? weve changed teh master cyclinder hoses etc and even tried aome second hand calipers along with 3 bleeds and still the same? anybody got a clue whats going on  :angry:
Title: Re: help with brakes please!!
Post by: packardjc on 02 June 2011, 20:28
Get some Goodridge brake hoses, they don't expand like the rubber ones so they make the pedal stiffer.
Title: Re: help with brakes please!!
Post by: Screech16v on 02 June 2011, 20:45
Right ive been helping my bro to try and sort the s**t  brake pedal on his m3 16v with abs. The brake pedal is really soft and has alot of travel? weve changed teh master cyclinder hoses etc and even tried aome second hand calipers along with 3 bleeds and still the same? anybody got a clue whats going on  :angry:

If you pump the pedal like mad does the pedal go hard with not much travel then sink again after not pressing it for a few seconds?
Title: Re: help with brakes please!!
Post by: paul7278 on 02 June 2011, 20:56
no stays the same all the time!
Title: Re: help with brakes please!!
Post by: Screech16v on 02 June 2011, 21:05
Sound like you got air trapped in there still,can be a behatch sometimes ,are you doin a manual bleed with the pedal or using easy bleed/pressure bleed system?
Title: Re: help with brakes please!!
Post by: Wayne on 02 June 2011, 21:08
Try bleeding with a pressure bleed kit.
Title: Re: help with brakes please!!
Post by: jon7278 on 02 June 2011, 21:09
Actually the pedal does go slightly harder if you pump it a few times. As Paul has said have fitted new pads all round front flexi's, master cylinder (2nd hand) and front calipers. Have bleed using an ezibleed (pressure bleeder). After bleeding them when you bleed them again air is in this system again. This is really yanking my chain now and is ruining what is an otherwise nice car.
Title: Re: help with brakes please!!
Post by: jon7278 on 02 June 2011, 21:18
Oh yeah forgot to mention that the NSF brake seems to get hot aswell. Have changed this caliper twice so cannot be the caliper!
Title: Re: help with brakes please!!
Post by: Screech16v on 02 June 2011, 21:18
Actually the pedal does go slightly harder if you pump it a few times. As Paul has said have fitted new pads all round front flexi's, master cylinder (2nd hand) and front calipers. Have bleed using an ezibleed (pressure bleeder). After bleeding them when you bleed them again air is in this system again. This is really yanking my chain now and is ruining what is an otherwise nice car.


Get your bro to pump the pedal then hold the pressure on, check all connections for leaks you may be be drawing air in through a loose union somewhere if all is good then bleed again start with the wheel furthest away from the master cylinder keep your level topped up and keep goin it will come out in the end
Title: Re: help with brakes please!!
Post by: jon7278 on 02 June 2011, 21:21
So use the two man method instead of pressure bleeding?
Title: Re: help with brakes please!!
Post by: Screech16v on 02 June 2011, 21:28
So use the two man method instead of pressure bleeding?


hell, why not ,try that aswell ! :smiley:
Title: Re: help with brakes please!!
Post by: AudiA8Quattro on 03 June 2011, 14:00
If one of the brakes isn't releasing, check that the pads move freely.
Clamp each corner to see if the brake pedal goes hard, but do this once the system has been properly bleed.
Title: Re: help with brakes please!!
Post by: tweed on 03 June 2011, 14:07
My old 16v was the same and my nsf got hot. brake balance was just in the limit.

Try bleeding nsr,osr,osf,nsf if you aint already and do it with a mate. Have you checked your hard lines for damp patches and corrosion?
Title: Re: help with brakes please!!
Post by: gasketface on 03 June 2011, 17:39
Do your brakes hold even though there is a lot of travel ?.
Title: Re: help with brakes please!!
Post by: jon7278 on 03 June 2011, 17:42
just holding. although approached a roundabout and thought I was not going to stop!!!
Title: Re: help with brakes please!!
Post by: tweed on 04 June 2011, 00:02
What pads have you got?
And have you bleed the rears until you have new fluid coming out? are you topping up the fluid regularly?
Title: Re: help with brakes please!!
Post by: jon7278 on 04 June 2011, 18:41
Time for a little update on this. I got the golf on the ramp today. Had a bloody good look at all brake components. Found bulged nsr brake flexi, renewed that. Took off all calipers and checked, all ok. Made a new nsf brake brake, abs unit to flexi and fitted a new flexi while I was there as union was quite corroded. I then pressure bled whole system twice. Then used the two man method and bled 5 times. Fired her up and guess what? still the same spongy pedal. Decided to check the 2nd hand master cylinder I fiited last week. Foun brake fluid leaking on the under side where it is fitted to the servo. I cleaned where the fluid was and took it on a drive. Upon checking again found more leaking from that area. Must be a sh*gged 2nd hand master cylinder.Have now ordered a new one (£36 delivered). At least my whole braking system has had an overhaul!!! :grin: