Citroen C1 - Brakes

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Sun 10 Jun 2018 18:42
Citroen C1 - Brakes - BarnsleyFCAsh

Hi.

I have a citroen c1 2009. I'm having issues with the front brake discs and pads. They were replaced 12 months ago however I have had regularly had to take my car back to kwik fit to have them replaced due to the brake discs warping. The car shakes when braking at high speeds. When the discs and pads are changed the issue is instantly resolved however sometimes it can be only a matter of a month or so later and the issue has reoccurred.

I am aware there is an issue with the abs sensor as I can feel the abs kickinh in when coming to a complete stop. Apparantly this is something to do with an air gap somewhere which is causing the sensor to think that the wheels are locking. I've been advised this is not dangerous and if I can put up with it I should. However could this be the reason why the discs keep warping?

Appreciate your help

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Sun 10 Jun 2018 19:06
Citroen C1 - Brakes - gordonbennet

ABS kicking it certainly won't help things.

The brakes are adequate on the model for all normal purposes, but from what you write you are braking from high speed, possibly regularly? and when doing so brakes get extremely hot.

Be sure not to allow the vehicle to come a full stop after such braking with your foot still on the brakes, because friction material transfer can and does occur where you end up with a brake pad sized patch of different friction resistance on the disc, this feels just like a warped disc, try to lift off the brakes just as the vehicle halts and apply the parking brake.

Speaking of parking brake, i wonder if the rear drum brakes are doing their fair share of braking, if they arn't the front brakes are doing een more of the work than they should, the automatic adjusters are not the best in the business on this model and i had to change one of the rear adjusters on the family Aygo because it wasn't operating properly, easily available parts from the usual sources but quite fiddly to fit.

Could be also that the rear shoes have become glazed leading to less braking effort, might be worth removing the drums and cleaning/roughening the friction materail up with glass paper and checking the adjusters whilst in there, or maybe the rear shoes are getting thin?

Also check the front caliper pistons are free moving and the sliders free and lubed up, if they arn't then the brakes will bind slightly and already hot before you use them.

I've had great improvements since using Brembo friction materials and discs (usually available from ECP for fair cost) on the family cars.

Its not unusual for this model to get through brakes quickly though, some of the most rapid wear of front discs and pads i've seen on any car.

Edited by gordonbennet on 10/06/2018 at 19:13

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Sun 10 Jun 2018 19:19
Citroen C1 - Brakes - BarnsleyFCAsh

Thanks for this. I do a long commute and on average rack up in excess of 35k miles a year. The milage currently sits at 123k.My drive to work which involves a lot of driving on the M62. From Pontefract to Bolton.. So It's possible that I could be speeding up and then braking regularly on the motorway due to the variable speed limits in place during rush hour. The moIre I think about it I'm quite guilty of this. I'll try and refrain from this.

In terms of the rear brakes I recently had the drums and shoes replaced so I'm not sure the issue is down to that.

The car is designed for City use so the style of my driving doesn't sit well with it I expect.

I'm booked in for a new set of front pads and discs next Saturday I guess it's just a case of bswing mindful when I brake with the new set and see how I get on..however I'll be sure to mentionyou're comments to my mechanic.

Thanks for your help

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Sun 10 Jun 2018 19:28
Citroen C1 - Brakes - gordonbennet

You're welcome, @ 35k hard miles a year (take me hat off to you coping with that horrid commute) an annual disc and pad change would not surprise me in the least on the model, the family Aygo is a 2010 and at around 100k is on its third set of discs.

Good little cars though, and even if the brakes wear quickly they are very cheap to buy.

Edited by gordonbennet on 10/06/2018 at 19:29

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Sun 10 Jun 2018 22:11
Citroen C1 - Brakes - Chris M

I took our 2010 C1 from 17k to 50k. New pads when I got it (ex courtesy car) and about 50% worn when sold. Original discs. Rear shoes had plenty of life left. I used ours to commute to work which involved around 16 miles of motorway 2 miles not. Generally I'm not hard on brakes although I make sure to work them hard occasionally.

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Mon 11 Jun 2018 13:39
Citroen C1 - Brakes - Gibbo_Wirral

The ABS air gap issue is well documented on the Pug 307s. Its a nice easy fix, takes no more than half an hour, a long Allen key and a small wire brush.

I wouldn't ignore it too long though. I made that mistake then one day "ABS FAILURE" came up on screen during heaving braking.

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Mon 11 Jun 2018 22:05
Citroen C1 - Brakes - BarnsleyFCAsh

The ABS air gap issue is well documented on the Pug 307s. Its a nice easy fix, takes no more than half an hour, a long Allen key and a small wire brush.

I wouldn't ignore it too long though. I made that mistake then one day "ABS FAILURE" came up on screen during heaving braking.

Thanks Gibbo will query getting the abs issue sorted when getting the brakes done.

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Wed 13 Jun 2018 12:45
Citroen C1 - Brakes - Cyd

the C1 is a small and light car and the brakes are perfectly adequate for the job. On top of that motorway driving is easy meat for a car. Plenty of air flow to keep temperatures down. Only regular harsh (emergency style) stops would overheat the brakes.

I've fitted Mintex discs and pads to both my wife's C1 and my Saab Aero and no complaints. I'd suggest you get yourself Mintex or Pagid or (if you want to splash out) Brembo - all available at Eurocarparts and plenty of other outlets.

I'd suggest the root cause is likely to be cheap chinese discs. And whilst KF do employ some competent people, in general I wouldn't trust them to service a walking stick.

And fix that air gap issue. "Put up with it" - what brilliant advice, NOT!

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Wed 13 Jun 2018 17:29
Citroen C1 - Brakes - Robin the Technician

Hi,

A lot of problems with warped discs are the type of brake pads that are fitted. Some are of a harder compound which of course the manufacturer can quote how long it lasts - at the expense of the discs warping. In the past I had a similar incidence of the same probme kept happening. In the end I fitted a set of Lucas pads which are softer (and kinder) to the new discs. I never had the problem again. You can get a set of lucas pads from Eurocarparts for a reasonable sum and I think when you take it back to have the discs replaced you ask them to fit yours. I'm confident you will have no issues any more if you do this.

Hope this helps

Robin the Technician - i fix, therefore I am

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Fri 15 Jun 2018 09:39
Citroen C1 - Brakes - Andrew-T

A lot of problems with warped discs are the type of brake pads that are fitted.

A long shot, but it seems just possible that those discs are non-homogeneous. I had a Pug 205 in the early 90s whose brakes pulsed gently at quite a low mileage (10-20K), so I had the discs skimmed. That cured the problem for a while but it gradually returned, suggesting that the discs were wearing unevenly. I've had a string of more than ten 205s and never had that problem before or since.

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