It's possible that for whatever reason the servo doesn't work as it should any more. It may be totally unconnected with the fact that you had just washed the car.
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L\'escargot.
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Leptons don't matter at this point. And it's a Renault Sport Clio.
I haven't done anything to the brakes or the fluid. They worked fine, I washed the car, they didn't work.
I'm not sure how old the fluid is, it may be worth changing it, and seeing if that helps.
The syptoms are as above, the brakes don't work too well anymore, and the pedal is very spongy, goes almost to the floor, it may possibly go to the floor. They are still very sharp below 10mph though.
What are the symptoms of the servo going? The above?
Would bleeding them be the first step? I don't want to take it to Renault, only for them to charge me for something I can do.
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Yes, bleed the brakes through. Though I'd still be concerned as to how the air got in there in the first place.
Servo failure would make the pedal hard, not spongy.
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Mike Farrow
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If the drivers disk is ridged, chances are the caliper is sticking and only one pad is working properly. OR you may have a leaking caliper. OR both.
Examine carefully.. watch - car jacked up securely and wheel off whilst someone else applies brakes hard.
You may see evidence of the above.. (or not)
madf
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Would this make all brakes not work very well then??
As none seem to be working.
I changed the rear pads about 6 weeks ago, could I have got air in the system then?
Could the fluid have just given up?
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I would be wondering why the brake fluid was red ?
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What colour should it be? Can you not get red brake fluid? I did always think it was yellow/green, but hey.
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Brake fluid is not normally red.
If the brakes suddenly went 'bad' on you for no apparent reason then I think you could have some catastrophic failure. Pedal going to the floor is a bad sign. My suggestion is don't drive the car. Get a mobile mechanic out to it, or breakdown organisation, if you have appropriate cover.
I remember hearing couple of years ago about one or two Laguna's that had master cylinder failure - you could have the same thing. Sounds too dangerous to drive to be honest...
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Power steering fluid and Redex are red.
Never seen red brake fluid.
You're going to have fun.............
Engage warp drive Mr Sulu..............
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Power steering fluid and Redex are red.
Yes, I'm thinking someone topped up the brakes with ATF/PS fluid (Dexron) and its maybe attacked the M/C seals. But that's just a wild guess. Someone professional really needs to take a look at this car.
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Well the only garages it has been to in it's life is Renault. So it's extremely unlikely that they've made that mistake.
And I know that nothing on the brakes has been touched since I've had the car, surely if the wrong fluid was put in, it wouldn't take 5 months to do the damage? Or would it? It's really wierd that, since I washed my car it happened. Or maybe a coincidence.
I have the car booked in to be looked at with Renault on Tuesday, so they can sort the problem if bleeding doesn't. I am going to try bleeding them, and flush the system and see if that makes any difference though.
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Brake fluid was red-about 30 yr. ago!
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Brake fluid was red-about 30 yr. ago!
Only Girling drum brake fluid.. Girling disc-brake fluid was green.
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stop it you 2 im feeling old enough already
you will be talking special oil in lever arms next ;-(
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BB
I can remember lever arm shock oil - it was called EP90/140.... [It leaked out a lot more slowly than the proper stuff.]
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Well I have read somewhere, that you can get red brake fluid, so I'm hoping that is what it is. I'm also hoping that changing it will cure the problem. Can you tell that I'm hoping for the impossible.
Deary me, I really regret going back to older cars lol, it was nice always having them under manufacturer's warranties, but I thought I would save money having older cars.
At least I get out of watching Eastenders tonight.
If the brakes don't get any better, the car is booked in at the Renault dealer Tuesday, is it an idea to drive slowly down the road, say just over 1/4 mile from my house, and then phone AutoAid (my breakdown people) and say that my brakes have failed, can they tow me to the dealer pretty please???
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Oil in shock absorbers?
What will they think of next.
My first car had friction shock absorbers , rod brakes, wire wheels, petrol tank over the engine for the gravity feed, a ooahh horn, a magneto and a nice fabric body.
They don't make them like they used to.
Thank goodness.:-)
madf
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Anyone talking to me? lol
PLEASE HELP, I've got home to bleed them, but thought I'd try them, but they are working well enough to make the ABS kick in. CONFUSED!
Still spongy though!!
Going to bleed em now, wish me luck.
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I think people went quiet on you as you said the car was off to the dealer on Tuesday. Do you have full comp on the car and is it valid if you drive with known dodgy brakes? (Legal requirement from insurer to keep car roadworthy).
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Only Girling drum brake fluid.. Girling disc-brake fluid was green.
The Girling brake fluid used in Dunlop disc brakes (in the 1960s) was red.
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L\'escargot.
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>> Brake fluid was red-about 30 yr. ago! >> Only Girling drum brake fluid.. Girling disc-brake fluid was green.
It looks like brake fluid is or has been all sorts of colours. tinyurl.com/39bfzq
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L\'escargot.
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Well the only garages it has been to in it's life is Renault. So it's extremely unlikely that they've made that mistake.
Gasp.....!
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Shush you!! lol
Right, bled them. The fluid is champagne colour, not red, but the bottom of the resevoir makes it appear red. Nevermind lol.
Breaks are now powerful to lock the wheels, but sometimes need a few pumps to get them to work. They are still a little spongy too.
I'm guessing the master cylinder is probably at fault? At least I will be able to make the short journey to the dealer on Tuesday, will get them to fix it fingers crossed.
Thanks all, leptons.
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"you will be talking special oil in lever arms next
I used to put neat STP (with difficulty) in my A35's. That stiffened 'em up a bit, and slowed down the loss.
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Shush you!! lol Right bled them. The fluid is champagne colour not red but the bottom of the resevoir makes it appear red. Nevermind lol.
LOL, not a good colour comparison to quote IMO, "champagne" as in bubbly, too much air in it then ;-o
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God, champagne just in the colour, not any bubbles, they all came out.
The brakes are still better than my g/f's 1.2 16v clio, but nowhere near as good as they were previously, and are a little spongy.
Driving with known dodgy brakes?!?! Did I know they were dodgy then?? ;-)
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Yes - you have been discussing it on a public forum all day!
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They are fine, they stop the car. You all worry too much.
Cheers for all your advice.
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we don't worry at all but we are concerned that you are driving around in a car with brakes that may, or may not, work. Perhaps you don't worry enough!
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>>powerful to lock the wheels but sometimes need a few pumps toget them to work. They are still a little spongy too.
Might be a good idea to do some more bleeding. In fact, do.
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"Driving with known dodgy brakes?!?! Did I know they were dodgy then?? ;-)"
If your car is examined after an accident and found to be "dodgy" knowing or not you could find yourself in a whole heap of trouble.
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LOL, you lot, stop worrying about me, though I am touched how much you care.
Of course the car isn't going to be driven. My father has said he will take in on the transport trailer.
@ the poster who said they recommend bleeding them again, I put 1/2 litre through the system, no air was coming out when I stopped. There must be an under-lying problem to get air in the system to start with.
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When you bled all four calipers did you ensure the caliper pistons were free to move. i.e push them back. If one has seized then it could be rubbing on the disc overheating and boiling the fluid thus the air/vapour. Regards Peter
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There's some information here about brakes and brake fluids. tinyurl.com/2qxjcn
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L\'escargot.
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