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Guest chunkmeister
Posted

:huh: :huh:

hi all,hope someone has answer to my problem ,its a real bi*ch...

i have a 1.9 tdi ghia x(2000)galaxy

i have changed the front brake pads and all seemed fine.

when tested found that pedal had pressure at first then as if overcoming some barrier the pedal travels to the floor,this happens every time the same but only

when engine is running????????

whhen engine/ignition are off pedal is solid with no give(how it should be)?

i am absolutely puzzeled

we did find a bit of fluid by rear n/s bleed nipple and have bled all nipples (front and rear) to be sure but same happening with no fluid loss to show for travel???

please help ,....hope there is simple and logical answer to this!

thanks (hopefully).chunkmeister

:blink:

Posted

This has come up before and 2 opinions resulted:

One said it was okay because the Galaxy is 'over servoed'

The other said it's not OK because most other Galaxy's don't do it.

 

My view is that it is a problem and needs sorting. Did you slacken off the bleed nipples to push the pistons back ?

 

Regards - John

Posted

did you use genuine ford pads?

 

i have known of some aftermarket pads to cause this.

Posted
After market pads will not cause difference in brake pedal travel. Also, diesels don't have a servo (no inlet manifold vacuum) - they use a brake booster
Posted

Ivor is right - unless the pads are actually compressing, it will make no difference - However, diesels still have a servo, exactly the same as petrols - the difference is in the way it is "powered" Whereas a petrol engine is "throttled" and therefore has a plentiful vacuum in the inlet manifold, the diesels are not, so they have to generate the vacuum via a seperate vacuum pump.

 

IMHO, a tiny leak of fluid in the system will cause the symptoms you are experiencing, as when the engine is off, you will have no servo assistance, this makes a BIG difference, to test it, simply turn off the engine and pump the pedal a couple of times to exhaust the vacuum. Then push the pedal as hard as you can, at the same time start the engine - The pedal should go down a good bit further, this is the servo working - if it goes to the floor, you have a leak! To confirm this, release and depress the pedal a good 20-30 times with the motor running,and then go and check the fluid level...

 

 

HTH

 

Mike

Posted
..and if the fluid is disappearing, get it fixed ASAP, because you're in big trouble.....
Posted

If it really goes down to the floor and it has been bled correctly (no spongyness with servo exhausted engine off) then...

 

either

 

1) fluid leak

 

2) faulty master cyclinder

 

3) faulty servo

 

If your not losing fluid, most likely faulty master cyclinder.

then as if overcoming some barrier

sounds like a seal gone in the master cylinder (maybe contaminated with old fluid pushed back during brake change?)

Posted
If it really goes down to the floor and it has been bled correctly (no spongyness with servo exhausted engine off) then...

 

either

 

1) fluid leak

 

2) faulty master cyclinder

 

3) faulty servo

 

If your not losing fluid, most likely faulty master cyclinder.

then as if overcoming some barrier

sounds like a seal gone in the master cylinder (maybe contaminated with old fluid pushed back during brake change?)

I have heard of master cylinder seals being inverted by fluid pushed back up when changing pads, but I don't know if it is a problem on VAG built vehicles.

Guest chunkmeister
Posted

:huh: thanks guys,looks like its a seas on master,will let you know when it's been done.is this a kit and diy job or professional job?

:blink: if diy any details please?

thx

Posted
:blink: :huh: :huh:

i mean seal .lol........

Hi,

Remember you can edit your posts on here, if you make an error again just look at the top R.H. corner of the post and you will see an edit button.

 

Good luck with the brake job.

 

Regards - JB

Posted
After market pads will not cause difference in brake pedal travel. Also, diesels don't have a servo (no inlet manifold vacuum) - they use a brake booster

as i said,i have personally known of this to happen,some pads can cause a difference in pedal feel.

fitting genuine pads cured it.

 

not sure of the reasoning behind it,but can only assume that the pad material was slightly softer,thus compressing very slightly.

a small amount of movement of the pad can feel like a large amount of movement at the pedal.

Guest chunkmeister
Posted

:lol: :lol: :lol:

thanks all,it appears travel is a fault in seals for master cylinder.so new one being fitted in am.will post results once my baby is returned.chunk

Posted

Question...

 

When you changed the pads, did you use a windback tool and open the bleed nipples, or did you just press the pistons back into the calipers?

 

Mike

Posted
Question...

 

When you changed the pads, did you use a windback tool and open te bleed nipples, or did you just press the pistons back into the callipers?

 

Mike

I asked that question and he pm'd me - He pushed the pistons back without opening the bleed nipples. The lid on the master cylinder was removed whilst this was being done.

 

Regards - JB

Posted

"The lid on the master cylinder was removed whilst this was being done."

 

 

:lol: I'd Imagine the resevoir is vented anyway? :lol:

Posted
Yes it is but only a very tiny hole. Removing the lid does make it much easier to push pistons back and in the event of the reservoir becoming over full it doesn't squirt a jet of paint remover in the air.
Guest ratherhaveanewone
Posted
Am I to conclude then that it is safe to push the pistons back, without using a bleed hose, if I remove the top from the master cylinder ?
Posted
Am I to conclude then that it is safe to push the pistons back, without using a bleed hose, if I remove the top from the master cylinder ?

I wouldn't risk it myself, any gunge thats collected in the caliper pistons then gets shoved back up the brake lines, better to release the bleed nipple and let the fluid out there. Doing it this way you are steadily renewing your brake fluid :lol:

 

Regards - John

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