| Author |
Message |
    
Jose A Cabrera (Jcabrera)
| | Posted on Monday, December 16, 2002 - 11:42 pm: | 
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Within the last two weeks, I am getting excessive brake pedal, I need to pump it in order to get it to normal. Brake pads might have 30% life left. Any suggestions? |
Ron
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 17, 2002 - 12:01 am: |
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MC shot, leak somewhere
Ron |
Norm
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 17, 2002 - 09:52 pm: |
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Check for a master cylinder leak. I just had this problem and found the culprit was a leaky grommet between the fluid reservoir and the master cylinder. There is a kit available with a new reservoir & cap, grommets and misc. parts -- AB sells it for @ $80. Also, I would flush the system and replace the fluid with Castrol GT/LMA (low moisture absorption) Dot 3 & 4 brake fluid.
Don't know if it's a coincidence or not, but the moment I started using Ate Super Blue brake fluid, I started getting this leak. Also, I hear that Ate sucks up a lot of moisture, which is probably not a good idea for a rig that gets driven through mud and water on a regular basis.
---Norm |
Jose A Cabrera (Jcabrera)
| | Posted on Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 01:21 am: |
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Norm,
Great advise. I have no lost of fluid. I priced the new master cylinder and BP has it for $179.99. I am also told that when using the rebuilding the MC, it is a 50/50 chance...I figure, with 103K miles the least I can do for my rig is a new master cylinder.
Any comments or suggestion when replacing the master cylinder & replacing the break fluids? |
Russian Landy
| | Posted on Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 03:41 am: |
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How often do you change the brake fluid? What happens to moisture in the system if you use Low Moisture Absorption fluid? Better to use the regular stuff and change it often. In my experience, this is the single most neglected maintenance item.
When the fluid is full of water, it loses its resistance to boiling (if the brake fluid boils when you're on a long mountain descent you are screwed). Plus everything will corrode -- MC, brake cylinders. If there is water not absorbed by the fluid, it's even worse. |
Norm
| | Posted on Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 10:41 am: |
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All I can say is that a year or so ago, I noticed my brake fluid started looking extremely dirty -- I mean it had some sort of jelly-like gunk on the inside of the reservoir. However, the brakes worked great -- no hydraulic problems at all. I took it to the LR dealer and had them flush it out. Since the dealer uses only Castrol GT/LMA, I assume that's what was in there to begin with.
A few months later, the brake fluid started looking dirty again -- with the same gunk in the reservoir. However, the brakes were as tight as ever. I took it to an independent mechanic who flushed it with Ate Super Blue. Unfortunately, the brakes started getting spongy and stayed that way no matter how many times I bled them. Then I noticed the leak between the reservoir and the MC. Had another mechanic put in a reservoir kit and flushed the system with the Castrol GT/LMA -- viola, the brakes were tight as ever.
I assume I had the leak for quite some time, which was the source of all the gunk and dirt in the MC. But the GT/LMA seemed to work fine for several months even with the leak, whereas with the Ate it suddenly got really spongy. Might just be a coincidence, but I think I'll stick with the GT/LMA.
---Norm |
Jose A Cabrera (Jcabrera)
| | Posted on Monday, December 30, 2002 - 12:04 am: |
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So, I replaced the brake master cylinder. Replaced brake fluid completely. Bled the system three time. If I pump the brake pedal, pressure builds up but. As I drive pressure is lost and I need to pump the pedal to regain normal pressure. No leak of fluid detected. Any other suggestion? |
Mike B.
| | Posted on Monday, December 30, 2002 - 12:35 am: |
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Sounds to me like you have a leak someplace. Crawl under to see if you can find the leak. Could be a very small leak, so take your time. Look at all of the hoses and most importantly, inspect each caliper.
Thanks,
Mike B. |
Jose A Cabrera (Jcabrera)
| | Posted on Thursday, January 02, 2003 - 08:35 pm: |
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thank you! Mike B, I am not loosing any fluid. |
Ron
| | Posted on Friday, January 03, 2003 - 12:47 am: |
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Just because you are not losing any fluid does not completely rule out a leak. Rebleed and see if you have any bubbles. If you do then you have a leak where air is getting in.
Also you did bench bleed the MC before install?
Ron |
Jose A Cabrera (Jcabrera)
| | Posted on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 10:08 pm: |
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What the hell?
I changed the brake master cylinder.
Bled the system 3 time
Took the Disco to have the brakes bled professionally
� Still the same problem. Brake pedal feel spongy, when pumped, brakes work fine.
What do you suggest? |
Tbow (Tbow)
| | Posted on Saturday, January 11, 2003 - 05:48 pm: |
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Pump up the brakes and have someone check your flex lines. If the flex line is swelling up, it will inflate when you press on the brake giving you the spongy pedal, but will look fine without the pressure.
Also does it hold pressure with you hold the brakes or does it go slowly down to the floor ? If it slowly goes to the floor, then you might have a bleed through between the front and rear portion of the M/C.
My two cents. |
Jose A Cabrera (Jcabrera)
| | Posted on Saturday, January 11, 2003 - 06:21 pm: |
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Tbow, thank you. The pedal holds pressure fine. I went to Midas and they want $80 just to find the problem. I washed all the barkes and calipers to see if there are any links and none still. Should fork the $80 to find the problem? |
Jose A Cabrera (Jcabrera)
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 01:16 am: |
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I am back. Took the Disco to brake shop. They could not find anything wrong. They don't do Rovers so he could not check nor suggest about the ABS. Could it be the ABS? How do I check that? |
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