Brake Fade

[faded-fish]

Yesterday the brakes on my Galaxy failed completely twice - lifting off the pedal and reapplying brought them back on both occasions. Has anybody else had this problem and found a simple solution? I had thought that it could be one of the following:

• Air in the system
  
• Breakdown of brake fluid
  
• Worn pads
  
• Jiggered master cylinder
  

Of all of these I am hoping for one of the top two. Any advice will be much appreciated.

[Andrew T]

My money's on the master cylinder.

 

Do you get a reduction in braking before it goes, is it linked to prolonged periods of brake usage, or is it there one time and not the next ?

[faded-fish]

The pedal has been soft for a while. On the 2 occasions that it happened yesterday the pedal just failed completely - nothing there - but came back with a "pump" on the pedal. I had been using the brakes a little more than usual a little earlier (fast run along the bypass with heavy braking at the roundabouts).

[Andrew T]

Maybe not the master cylinder then, when mine went the brakes got gradually soggier until I realised they were almost none existent.

 

Has the fluid ever been changed ? Fluid absorbs water through the brake hoses, if yours is on 10 year old fluid it would be quite easy to get to boil with 2 or 3 hard applications.

[faded-fish]

Has the fluid ever been changed ? Fluid absorbs water through the brake hoses, if yours is on 10 year old fluid it would be quite easy to get to boil with 2 or 3 hard applications.

I have no idea - I've only had the car since February this year. I think I prefer the option of changing the brake fluid over the master cylinder :)

[gregers]

fish- just an idea when i purchased mine bout 2 years back went to local dealers to see if my car had missed any recals it had it was the master clyinder replaced f.o.c

dont no if this is any help but no harm in asking.