greglogan
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| posted on 2/10/07 at 09:46 PM |
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Poor brakes on A3
Hi guys
I;ve got a problem with the wife's car. It's a 99 A3 1.8T Quattro with the worst brakes I've ever used. The brakes are reasonable
but I feel there is excessive travel with the pedal. Took the car to a local exhaust and brake guy who has done all my servicing work in the past with
no problems, in fact I'm pretty happy with the level of service I've got from him.
Problem is, he says that everything is fine and the travel isn't that bad. I disagree. Anyone got any suggestions as to what it could be?
Discs are good, pads are fine. I'm thinking of changing the flexible hoses and replacing the brake fluid. Would this make a difference?
Thanks for your help
Greg.
Women are meant to be loved, not understood.
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robinj66
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| posted on 2/10/07 at 10:02 PM |
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Pretty certain these are more or less the same as the Seat Leon. I had trouble with my clutch - turned out to be the slave (I think) cylinder which is
made out of plastic
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mookaloid
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| posted on 2/10/07 at 10:07 PM |
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Braided hoses could well help to firm up the pedal. You would have to change the fluid at the same time anyway
Cheers
Mark
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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RazMan
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| posted on 2/10/07 at 10:40 PM |
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Probably changing the fluid (use DOT5.1) would be my first move, then possibly braided hoses if that doesn't improve things a bit.
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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Danozeman
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| posted on 3/10/07 at 06:37 AM |
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My passat goes down quite a way. I think if you drive another one that will be similar. I changed the fllexi's and fluid which made i
marginally better but its still long. My mates a VW tech and he reckons theyr all like that. Golfs, passats, polo's so this would be the same
for audis and seats.
Dan
Built the purple peril!! Let the modifications begin!!
http://www.eastangliankitcars.co.uk
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Howlor
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| posted on 3/10/07 at 07:39 AM |
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Wife has a Leon 54 plate and I jump in and always feel the brakes arn't much cop. I have found though that some harsh braking (When she
isn't in her car!) tends to improve them for a day or two.
I know my mates wife has one and the garage have changed two master cylinders on it under warranty to try and improve them.
Steve
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britishtrident
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| posted on 3/10/07 at 07:51 AM |
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There a well known problem on most right hand drive VAG models, problem is purely mechanical nothing to do with brake hoses or anything else
hydraulic.
The master cylinder is linked to the pedal by a cross shaft that runs across the front bulkhead id effect this acts as a giant torsion bar hence the
springy long travel brake pedal.
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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SyKaTurbo
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| posted on 3/10/07 at 08:16 AM |
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Never had any problems with mine using the old standard setup or the 312mm S3 setup with Black Diamond Discs, Pads and Lines. Never had any mechanical
problems with the system and its coming up for 100k now.
[Edited on 3/10/07 by SyKaTurbo]
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fatfranky
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| posted on 3/10/07 at 09:40 AM |
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Had a similar problem on my brothers Mk4 Golf, long pedal travel then brakes would snatch.
On investigation it turned out that the front disks had 2 pronounced ridges on the inner and outer edges of the pad swept area, the pads were
therefore riding on these and on applying pressure were bending to the main contact area and then grabbing.
Don't know if this is the same problem that you are having. What i did to identify it was clamp the front brake hoses, then see if the pedal
improves.
FWIW it was the MK1 Golf (and derivatives) that had the linkage accross the car, all versions since have the M/Cyl mounted on the right.
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Gav
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| posted on 3/10/07 at 10:20 AM |
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My X reg Seat Cupra has long travel also but feels ok and stops well enough.
Was a bit worried when i tired a 04 model cupra but at the next service was told by the seat stealers pretty much the same thing that britishtrident
said.
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rusty nuts
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| posted on 3/10/07 at 05:42 PM |
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Worked for a VAG dealership in the late 70s early 80s when GTIs were new , we had loads of people buy them without even having a demo . They would
collect the car, drive 1/2mile along a dual carraigeway to a roundabout and come back saying the brakes didn't work.
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