Author Topic: spongy brakes, with a twist!  (Read 813 times)

Offline paultownsend

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spongy brakes, with a twist!
« on: 30 June 2007, 00:17 »
hi all, a month ago i fitted a 256 conversion to my 8v. pretty straightforward, new disks, pads and 22.2 master cylinder.
the calipers had been painted red by the seller, but never used since. the paint seemed very thick all round, looked like hammerite.

now the brakes were pressure bled properly, and the pedal was super firm, but a week or so after, it feels spongy, so i bled again. and still the same problem.

when i put the pads in the calipers, the paint still seemed pretty soft, although theyd been in my garage for a month.

is it possible the thick, slightly sticky paint is not letting the pad/caliper operate as they should together?

it feels like the piston is having to move before moving the pad?

Paul

Offline woodlehouse

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Re: spongy brakes, with a twist!
« Reply #1 on: 30 June 2007, 19:52 »
HI

certainly sounds like thers a bit of an issue there , can olny try ............& get as much of the thick gooey paint opff & try em again ....

if the are ok you can always repaint them on the car with a small brush in thin coats alowiung to dry between each coat .

halfrauds high temp engine laquer works very well @ £4.99 a tin  :laugh:

Offline VW_valver

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Re: spongy brakes, with a twist!
« Reply #2 on: 30 June 2007, 22:52 »
halfrauds high temp engine laquer works very well @ £4.99 a tin  :laugh:

Just dont use the Red though as it goes bright pink when hot! As i found out!  :grin:

Cheers,
Andy

Offline Ben Lessani

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Re: spongy brakes, with a twist!
« Reply #3 on: 01 July 2007, 00:12 »
can i butt in and ask, what are the brakes like...cost etc?

i really want a firm pedal like on a new car, but have no idea on the best way to achieve the feel, new disks/pads certainly make no diff. so im thinking of upping the size, 280mm setup's seem crazy expensive (£400-500), what did the 256 set you back....and was there a noticeable diff?

Offline paultownsend

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Re: spongy brakes, with a twist!
« Reply #4 on: 01 July 2007, 13:11 »
lets get it staiht, im really not bothered about the coloured red thing  :grin:

at first, they were fantastic. i cleaned them before use, and worked amazing literally on the 1st corner. im usually always cautios, but i mean straight out the box.

i just hope its the paint thing not letting the pads move as they should, because now there poop!

the pedal went to meaga firm, to, well, stepping into a pile of poop!

cost wise,

i got hubs and calipers from breakers  £50

new bearings pressed in £40

brembo disks, pagid pads £55 GSF

il clean off paint and tell you the results tomorrow

Judderi

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Re: spongy brakes, with a twist!
« Reply #5 on: 02 July 2007, 10:21 »
just sounds like your flexible hoses have perished to me. You will probably find one has a big bubble in it.