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Topic: Brakes spongey (Read 1333 times) |
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Bobbit
Full Member
Scorpio 2.3 ghia x estate
Posts: 253
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Brakes spongey
« on: Sep 20th, 2012, 1:20pm » |
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Hi Guys,
I have replaced the brake pads on all four wheels, after fitting the brakes have become very soft and spongey, pedal travels a long way,and I have to pump the pedal to get it firm again.
Anyone any ideas?
Cheers Bob
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Simmo
Administrator
I'm an OAP !
Posts: 5508
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Re: Brakes spongey
« Reply #1 on: Sep 20th, 2012, 1:41pm » |
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The usual cause...and don't ask me why... is that when bleeding the system the jar containing the fluid MUST be held above the bleed nipple.  Another Scorpio trait!.
Read This. Section 3 has the detail.
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Jonnycab
Senior Member
Former owner of 2.3 Ultima Facelift saloon
Posts: 3900
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Re: Brakes spongey
« Reply #2 on: Sep 20th, 2012, 4:35pm » |
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If the brakes worked fine before & all you've done is replaced the pads & not opened any bleed valves, then it's probably just the new pads wearing in & should be back to normal in a day or two 
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Bobbit
Full Member
Scorpio 2.3 ghia x estate
Posts: 253
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Re: Brakes spongey
« Reply #3 on: Sep 20th, 2012, 8:10pm » |
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Thanks for that guys,will give it a few days to bed the pads in and then see what happens.
Cheers Bob
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Mike H
Senior Member
Renault Clio
 
Posts: 2594
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Re: Brakes spongey
« Reply #4 on: Sep 24th, 2012, 6:52pm » |
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on Sep 20th, 2012, 4:35pm, Jonnycab wrote:| If the brakes worked fine before & all you've done is replaced the pads & not opened any bleed valves, then it's probably just the new pads wearing in & should back to normal in a day or two |
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Yes have just recently had new discs & pads put onto the back, was very 'soft' straight off, only just now is pedal starting to feel hard
HTH
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Mike H
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Jonnycab
Senior Member
Former owner of 2.3 Ultima Facelift saloon
Posts: 3900
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Re: Brakes spongey
« Reply #5 on: Sep 26th, 2012, 2:14am » |
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It's called the 'bedding in period'....the hotter they get, the quicker they 'bed in'
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Bobbit
Full Member
Scorpio 2.3 ghia x estate
Posts: 253
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Re: Brakes spongey
« Reply #6 on: Sep 26th, 2012, 8:48am » |
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yes brakes are just now started to feel like they should 
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Jeff
Full Member
I love YaBB 1G - SP1!
Posts: 359
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Re: Brakes spongey
« Reply #7 on: Sep 26th, 2012, 11:38am » |
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If the rear handbrake adjusters aren't working then the rear pads will have to be brought up to the surface of the disc by fluid pumped in by the old foot pedal. Makes for a very long travel pedal - orrible.
I know...mine's at it due to the adjusters all seized up.
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Mike H
Senior Member
Renault Clio
Posts: 2594
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Re: Brakes spongey
« Reply #8 on: Sep 29th, 2012, 11:44am » |
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on Sep 26th, 2012, 8:48am, Bobbit wrote:| yes brakes are just now started to feel like they should |
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There ya go.
Jeff are you the one keeps oiling them but they keep seizing up again?
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Mike H
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Jeff
Full Member
I love YaBB 1G - SP1!
Posts: 359
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Re: Brakes spongey
« Reply #9 on: Sep 29th, 2012, 9:57pm » |
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Re Mike H
No, don't think so. I tried to free mine up once by copious delugements of WD40 (have since read Plusgas is better so use that now, not sure if any better) and much elbow grease action with graunchers but after a small improvement they have siezed again and I have a long travel pedal. Might rebuild a caliper off another car or from a breaker and see if it's worthwhile, but someone said it's a difficult job.
Can't be any worse than any other caliper, I assume. Did my Lancia ones once, they were beautifully made units in aluminium, very well engineered and a pleasure to overhaul. The only thing that let the side down on those, was the steel bleed nipple that rusted and sheared off so it was a major engineering exercise drilling it out. Always a barrel of laughs when drilling hard steel out of soft alloy. Seem to recall fitting an oversize nipple and getting there in the end. All that good design let down by a cop-out on the nipple.
It seems the calipers on the Scorpio is let down by an inadequate handbrake mechanism.
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Simmo
Administrator
I'm an OAP !
Posts: 5508
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Re: Brakes spongey
« Reply #10 on: Sep 30th, 2012, 8:56am » |
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on Sep 29th, 2012, 9:57pm, Jeff wrote:Re Mike H
It seems the calipers on the Scorpio is let down by an inadequate handbrake mechanism. |
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Jeff, I can identify with the 'graunching' for sure.
If you look at the 'exploded' views in How to do Things you'll see that there is a small 'peg' which fits through the wall of the caliper. It locates in a depression at the end of the shaft which holds the handbrake lever. It also fits in a depression in the head of the coarse screw which activates the piston. In other words it passes the movement through 90 degs. This is why you cant remove the shaft from the caliper without dismantling the whole thing!. Once there is significant wear in these two 'depressions' particularly in the one on the end of the shaft I think you've had it and only new parts will solve the problem unless you are a skilled engineer and can re-manufacture them. In short a new/replacement caliper. IIRC a firm called Big Red do rebuilt ones.
UPDATE: If you look at the first picture Here you'll see what I mean. The hole in the shaft looks really worn. 
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Jeff
Full Member
I love YaBB 1G - SP1!
Posts: 359
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Re: Brakes spongey
« Reply #11 on: Sep 30th, 2012, 11:12am » |
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Yes I see what you mean. I will check out the re-con ones, sounds like a more efficient move given my shortage of time.
Thanks for the tip off...
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Mike H
Senior Member
Renault Clio
Posts: 2594
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Re: Brakes spongey
« Reply #12 on: Sep 30th, 2012, 11:16am » |
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on Sep 29th, 2012, 9:57pm, Jeff wrote:
Must be somebody else then.
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Mike H
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Simmo
Administrator
I'm an OAP !
Posts: 5508
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Re: Brakes spongey
« Reply #13 on: Sep 30th, 2012, 12:00pm » |
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on Sep 30th, 2012, 11:12am, Jeff wrote:Yes I see what you mean. I will check out the re-con ones, sounds like a more efficient move given my shortage of time.
Thanks for the tip off... |
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Jeff. This is the firm I was talking about. I've tried to look up calipers BUT that section of their site is being updated. I suggest you give them a ring.
There is another site Here can't find a price though. 
This one has prices.....deep breath....but there is a £40 refund for the old one so actually not too bad !.
Finally....E-Bay
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Jeff
Full Member
I love YaBB 1G - SP1!
Posts: 359
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Re: Brakes spongey
« Reply #14 on: Sep 30th, 2012, 9:22pm » |
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Thanks for your help Simmo, must say I don't like the sound of over a hundred quid for a disc. I do like the look of Bigg Red however, so I'll phone them as you suggest.
Don't think I'll bother with having the calipers painted bright red - this looks fine on a 911 or Jaguar XKR with huge great Brembo brakes, but our humble poky little pinchers are best kept out of site. Someone has painted mine silver blue (before I owned the car)...looks daft, they are unsightly at best so why attract attention.
I will try and report back soon. Thanks again.
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