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  • Ford Fiesta (2000 - 2002) - 2000 1.8D - sluggish brakes 30 Nov 2008 (Forum)
    I recently picked up a 2nd hand 1.8 diesel which seems to be in good order and a nice runner, however the brakes are really sluggish, the pedal feels quite soft and it takes a good while to stop, it's been serviced and has new front tyres, pads and discs but still seems too sluggish
  • Ford Focus (1998 - 2004) - 98 1.8 engine smelling like brake pads 30 Jul 2008 (Forum)
    Hi, i,m not sure if it's the clutch that smells and therefore gone or what. When I raise the clutch to engage the drive shft a rubbing noise happens. The brake pad smell is there from just the engine running. The biting point does feel at a good point when lifting the peddle as if the clutch
  • BMW 3-Series E46 (1998 - 2005) - 03 2.0 Brake Warning Light On 30 May 2008 (Forum)
    hi i have a bmw 320d and the brake warning light is on even though i have had all the pads replaced with new sensors where required, my local garage tells me that they cannot get there diagnostic machine to communicate with my car. please can anyone help many thanks jim {volume in header turned
  • Volkswagen Golf V (2004 - 2008) - 05 1.6 FSi Rear brakes noisy 19 Mar 2008 (Forum)
    I have been nominated to have a look at the noisy rear brakes on this Golf. I am guessing that they will be disks. It has done 30K from new. Presumably the pads shouldn't be worn out. Is there anything in particular to look out for or common faults? Any special tools required? I have not seen
  • Ford Focus (1998 - 2004) - Drum brakes 7 Oct 2007 (Forum)
    Hi, i'm struggling to get my rear brakes off. Namely the drums. I've released the handbrake adjuster as far as it will go and have given the drums a good battering with a decent mallet to coax them off. But the shoes have produced a lip on the inside of the drums which are catching and making
  • Vauxhall Astra G Petrol (1998 - 2004) - 2004 1.6. Brakes seem insufficient 5 Sep 2007 (Forum)
    Hi, I own a 2004 Astra 1.6 with 37k on the clock, and the brakes seem terrible, I've checked the discs and pads and they seem ok, it passed it's mot in May without comment, but I feel I really have to stand on the pedal. Anyone out there experienced similar probs. Ta Graham {Slight tweek
  • '93 Rover 214 front brake pads 25 Jul 2007 (Forum)
    my front brake pads need changed now if not sooner:) Anyone experience of these? I've done plenty of the old Ford type with pins that need drifted out and Toyota ones that you undo a bolt and half the caliper swings up out the way but these look a bit different again. I've not got a workshop manual
  • VW Polo - brake fluid change query 31 May 2007 (Forum)
    I have a 2005 VW polo 1.2 twist and it is going in for a service this weekend, VW have offered to changed all the brake fluid but this will cost a whopping 80 pounds! is it worth it? The car has done 34,000 miles and it is all motorway, this car is very rarley used for any journey under 30 miles
  • VW Passat Brake wear 17 Jun 2005 (Forum)
    Hi, I Have a Passat 4motion Estate 1.9Tdi (130). It has been in for it's first service after 17000 miles (long life). I have been told that the brake pads need to be changed. The rear pads are 90% (1000ish miles to go) worn and the front are 60% worn (10,000ish miles to go). I know alot
  • Brake pad life. 8 Apr 2005 (Forum)
    What sort of life do Backroomers get from front brake pads these days? Our Fabia tdi has done 76,000 KM, (47,500 miles) and ours are, according to the dealer OK.The first ITV (MOT equivalent) is now due, so I particularly asked for them to be checked. I would have expected no more than 30-35,000
  • Seized brake piston?? mk 3 fiesta 10 Feb 2005 (Forum)
    After changing the pads on my mk 3 fiesta i have noticed the passenger side caliper piston does not seem to move when i put brake pedal down. I was wondering if it is seized but i can lever it out with a screwdriver and push back with my hands. I had this piston out of it's bore completely would
  • Primera Brake/ABS Problem 6 Feb 2005 (Forum)
    Hi, This is my first post, but I have been lurking for ages :) I have a (W/2000) 1.8 Primera Sport, when braking all is fine until it drops down to about 5mph when it feels like the ABS is kicking in, but the light does not come on. The car stops fine, The ABS light works properly according
  • Mazda 323 brake rattle 21 Dec 2004 (Forum)
    . They fixed it again but within 35miles it was back. They said it was something to do with disc brake. Anybody any other ideas?
  • Peugeot 405 brake bleeding 29 Aug 2004 (Forum)
    I tried to bleed my brakes on my pug 405, but when i tried to loosen the nipple in the front caliper, the nipple just snapped. I don\'t want to try the other side incase i do the same again. I tried to loosen the nipple by the usual fashion of unscrewing anti-clockwise. Does anyone know if you
  • What paint for brake drums? 4 Aug 2004 (Forum)
    The brake drums on my Mondeo are not looking too pretty. They rather detract from the alloys. I would like to improve the general appearance by restoring the drums to a black / matt black finish. What is the best paint for drums? Exhaust paint? Will normal paints stand up to the heat generated
  • Omega back brakes 20 Oct 2003 (Forum)
    I am having great difficulty in extracting the inner back brake pad on the drivers side of my omega - it just dosent seem to want to budge. Any help would be gratefully received. If I could get it out I can push back the piston ok. my difficulty is in shifting it initially so that I can extract
  • Brake Pipes 7 Oct 2003 (Forum)
    Normally if I need to replace fixed brake lines I get one made up (in copper) at the local motor factors. Last time I looked though I saw cupro-nickel pipe for the same purpose. What's the difference? I thought the addition of nickel would be to prevent corrosion, but copper doesn't, so I'm
  • Handbrake 'failure' 4 Jul 2003 (Forum)
    is attached to the rear brake shoes but can someone explain how it affects the brake pedal? I would have thought the brakes would be applied via the handbrake and 'bypass' the pedal.
  • Brake squeal / cleaning alloys 22 Feb 2003 (Forum)
    You lot seem unusually sharp by comparison to the 'net norm so here's a quick theory question: Why does grease on the back of pads stop brake squeal? I've cured it a few times in my life but can't figure out why it happens in the first place...... Also, does anyone have a recommendation
  • MR2 pulling when braking 8 Apr 2002 (Forum)
    Dear all, If you recall some weeks ago l posted a problem with my lady's MR2 pulling to the right when braking. I've been on holiday, come back and thought l would find out what was up with it, (she had had it serviced in my absence). Oh she said, only seems to happen on the same turn in the road
 

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