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General => The garage => Topic started by: danhock on 18 September 2003, 13:00

Title: brakes
Post by: danhock on 18 September 2003, 13:00
The brakes on my Golf Gti 16v Cabrio are poor..

Hard to push and fair amount of pressure needed to stop!

Feels like the servos dead... any suggestion, things to look for test?

Dan
Title: Re:brakes
Post by: richandhazel on 18 September 2003, 13:17
They sound normal to me! Mk1 brakes are well known for requiring a lot of effort to achieve adequate braking........you'll get used to them.
Title: Re:brakes
Post by: danhock on 18 September 2003, 13:19
I'll end up with arms like popeye from steering and legs like tree trunks from braking...


Oh year the clutch pedal is stiff too!
Title: Re:brakes
Post by: richandhazel on 18 September 2003, 13:26
Yep, that's Mk1's for you..........couple that with that great engine and in your case even better engine and you've got your seat of the pants driving experience that you get from the Mk1.  ;D ;D
Title: Re:brakes
Post by: golfvr6 on 18 September 2003, 14:50
Its that good old servo linkage  ;)
Title: Re:brakes
Post by: AdamB on 19 September 2003, 12:46
 I have to sympathise there. My brakes are poor at the best of times (I've had a couple of close shaves due to some fading) I have now decided to upgrade with a C&R brake kit - black diamond discs, predaotor pads and larger calipers, and maybe some braided hoses.
 No more adrenaline fuelled braking for me, now.
 Should be on the car in a few weeks, so I will let you know how it feels.
Title: Re:brakes
Post by: adyh on 19 September 2003, 14:55
VW brakes of that age are notoriously bad. I had a Mk2 polo a long time ago and the brakes were shocking. the car was 1.3 but VW never bothered to uprate the brakes from a 1.1 and by the way no sevro .
Title: Re:brakes
Post by: tinman on 19 September 2003, 17:58
ok, heres a shot in the dark, from the school of "been there, done that, got crucified by a new part".

Rear Brake Compensator is screwed. The result is that the brakes just aren't sharp, and in a dire emergencies, or just simply braking, you need to turn to prayer to stop, rather than trusting your brakes.

This component has about 17 different names. You have been warned.

If it is my rear brake compensator thats buggered i'll tell you all when the car returns.

Tin
Title: Re:brakes
Post by: bigkev750 on 20 September 2003, 00:46
a simple check to see if your servo is working
engine off,press your brake pedal,start your engine keeping the pedal pressed,if the pedal goes down a few millimeteres once started then its ok.
OR press the pedal a few times with the engine running and hold it there switch the engine off and press a couple more times and the pedal should gradually become harder,if this fails you should go straight out and buy a mk2 GTI 8V
Title: Re:brakes
Post by: golfvr6 on 20 September 2003, 13:06
Its not the servo thats bad, mk1 is notorious for the bushes wearing out on the cross linkage.
Title: Re:brakes
Post by: richandhazel on 20 September 2003, 16:35
a simple check to see if your servo is working
engine off,press your brake pedal,start your engine keeping the pedal pressed,if the pedal goes down a few millimeteres once started then its ok.
OR press the pedal a few times with the engine running and hold it there switch the engine off and press a couple more times and the pedal should gradually become harder,if this fails you should go straight out and buy a mk2 GTI 8V

Good advice there.......apart from the last bit of course :P Made me laugh though  ;D ;D