HELP!!!Brakes not stopping

Need technical Q/A then you're in the right place

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oze30
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Post Sun Sep 24, 2006 2:00 pm

Got cut up on a roundabout on the way home. RX7 in left lane decided to turn right INFRONT of me going straight in RHlane. Fuckign tosser. anyway, chased him for a bit.. Bad I know.. but he almost crashed trying to get away! and we both came up to another round about.. and I stepped on the brakes.. AND I DIDN@T SLOW DOWN BY MUCH!!! tried again.. same thing.. shit.. RX7 rear ended by beemer! I could see the ehad lines. Darted across the other lane and did what he did to me. He took off and I was left wondering about my brakes.

The engine doesn't have anymods, the car wasnt loaded with anything heavy and the abs doesnt work. BUT having said that, my other touring without abs managed to lock the wheels up from about 45mph. i cant even do it no matter how hard i jump on the pegs.

Any ideas??

Changed to the vented/slotted discs from the other touring Some improvement, but still not the same stopping power. Whichc you need with all the round a bouts in MK!

HELP!!!!
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pnd
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Post Sun Sep 24, 2006 2:35 pm

The brakes on these cars are often poor you need a new cylinder and servo to make them stop properly and hoses. Ive done the same in the past new and expensive pads + discs with little effect the problem is higher up the system. These cars do stop ok with new parts throughout the braking system. Sorry but its more expense but worth it to have a safe car.
mrLEE30
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Post Sun Sep 24, 2006 3:18 pm

slotted disks with standard pads do nothing, the slots are to disperse gas given off by the pads designed to run on those rotors, normally used for track/rally type stuff.

to your problem, how were your brakes before you chased this car?, normally lack of brakes is down to
1. low fluid -check and top up
2. knackered pads
3. knackered or glazed disks
4. overheated brakes and boiling fluid (caused from hard driving/braking)

or more serious:
1. master or slave clyinder leaking - symptoms are spongey brake pedal and no brakes
2. servo assist problem (i.e. lack of vacuum caused by knackered servo of leaking vacuum pipe) symptoms of this are hard pedal and no brakes.
3. leaking brake system - fluid low and spongey brake pedal.
4. i have heard stories recently on the zone about ABS failure causing brakes to fail, but personally not believing this as it is a fail safe system i.e. ABS fails brakes will work but can now lock up. your problem more likely to be caused by any or all of above.

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oze30
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Post Sun Sep 24, 2006 9:08 pm

Brakes were better after i changed the discs, but will think about getting the fkluid changed and flushed.

Will keep you posted!
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gilb
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Post Mon Sep 25, 2006 5:57 pm

try bleeding them mine are poo to and iv replaced pads and discs aswell
mrLEE30
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Post Tue Sep 26, 2006 6:50 am

try bleeding them mine are poo to and iv replaced pads and discs aswell
sorry meant to write that, spongey brake pedal could aslo be air in the system and it needs bleeding out, this normally gets in the system due to low fluid/leaking pipes and spirited driving (as the fluid sloshes around in the reserviour and air can get into the pipes)
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Globulator
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Post Tue Sep 26, 2006 2:44 pm

The flexi pipes can also become a problem - I think that there are 4 at the back and two at the front from memory, the two from the body onto the swing arms are a bit of a pain to change.

Flexi pipes can fail in two ways: swelling like balloons (robbing pressure) and constricting (stopping fluid passing).
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