Uh oh dodgy brakes !

CSK_423 · Post by **CSK_423** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 1:52 pm

Heading to work this morning coming off the motorway around 70mph apply brakes seem a bit spongy then brake pedal travels further than normal and doesn't bite as it usually does, foot off try again bites no problem. I know it was wet today and with the MMC brakes I have experienced them being water logged but it didn't feel like that in this case.

Coming through glasgow I took it really easy didn't want to over run any red lights or bump into the back of anyone ! The brakes seemed to bite ok but still felt a bit iffy, too much travel.

Any ideas I see no sign of leaks so would hazard a guess at the master cylinder ???

Post by ed » Wed Jan 03, 2007 1:57 pm

I had this the other day. I had parked my car up for several days after driving on salty roads and went for the pedal and they, depsite the servo, felt dodgy. The problem was that they had rusted up due to the salt. A bit of left foot braking and they were back to normal. HTH, cheers Ed

Sanjøy · Post by **Sanjøy** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:00 pm

Mega cold disks ?

CSK_423 · Post by **CSK_423** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:10 pm

ed : Well it was drivin last night for around 20 miles but had been sitting for 4/5 days prior to this, which might have had an affect.

mckeann · Post by **mckeann** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:24 pm

could be either water, or if there is any signs of surface rust, that could cause it.

mac · Post by **mac** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:51 pm

MMC's shouldn't surface rust though should they? - not being ferous in construction.

You can check the master cylinder by looking for bubbles when someone else is pressing on the brake disc. It's more likey to be a bit of air that's settled in the system - try giving them a bleed to put fresh fluid at the business end.

Cheers

Mac

mckeann · Post by **mckeann** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 3:00 pm

ahh, didnt realise it was MMC's. Prob just water then. If your not sure, get it checked, as brakes are pretty important usually

CSK_423 · Post by **CSK_423** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 4:14 pm

Spoke to my mechanic mate and he's going to have a look tonight.

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 5:41 pm

Had mmcs on the front for a couple of months and I found them scary in the wet...

noting, nothing nothing, STOP!

Fortunatly never found out what might happen if the rears locked first (Them being iron at the time...!)

r055 · Post by **r055** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 6:24 pm

i quite like the MMCs - i have driven in really wet conditions and only problem i've had with them is when i washed it and then pulled out my street.
i near shat myself as there was absolutely nothing there!

CSK_423 · Post by **CSK_423** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 2:05 am

Well I found the prob. tonight, in the dark I kicked a leaf shaped item on my drive although it was a bit heavier than a leaf !

It was a brake pad !! well part of it anyway it had been halved, ie it was the face, it had came away from the back plate.

Checked round the calipers and found it to be the O/S rear inside pad that it came from.

I will need to pop down to Lotus tomoz and get a set ASAP just hope the piston hasn't been damaged within the caliper !

Sanjøy · Post by **Sanjøy** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 9:38 am

Sod the piston, what abotu the disk ?!

My first set did similar and after glazing crumbled.

mckeann · Post by **mckeann** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 11:00 am

Sanjoy wrote:Sod the piston, what abotu the disk ?!

The discs are a fair bit cheaper to replace than the piston Sanjoy.

If you have MMC discs, you will need MMC pads, and lotus no longer sell these. If you want to stay with MMC's then your best bet is eliseparts, but be warned, some people have melted the discs using the eliseparts pads (i.e ME)

Neil

Post by **Shug** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 11:02 am

mckeann wrote:
Sanjoy wrote:Sod the piston, what abotu the disk ?!
The discs are a fair bit cheaper to replace than the piston Sanjoy.

If you have MMC discs, you will need MMC pads, and lotus no longer sell these. If you want to stay with MMC's then your best bet is eliseparts, but be warned, some people have melted the discs using the eliseparts pads (i.e ME)

Neil

Yes, but you have big clodhopper feet

Sanjøy · Post by **Sanjøy** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 11:05 am

mckeann wrote: The discs are a fair bit cheaper to replace than the piston Sanjoy.

Neil

But shirley if one of the disks is fubarred then the bill goes expodential as he will need to replace all 4 with iron due to lack of MMC spare disks and then replace all the pads too.