Brakes Failing

**Undertaker** · 18th August 2004

Vauxhall Astra N reg. 1.4

My brakes become really soft after continuous use........... i think its wen they are getting hot...and at that stage wen i press the brakes, the pedal goes all the way down, and needs to be pumped to be effective.

There is no brake fluid leak anyway, and in the morning its fine.....i think the problem is with them getting hot, but i may be wrong

any help?

thanx in advance

**Pegasus** · 18th August 2004

Two possible's I can think of here:

1. The brake fluid is shagged and is reaching it's "boiling point" prematurely

2. The rubber seal around the piston in the brake master cylinder is worn out and when the fluid gets hot, it is simply leaking past the piston when the brake pedal is depressed.

I think I'd be tempted to go with option 2 based on the fact that have said that rapid pumping of the pedal builds the pressure back up again.

**Undertaker** · 19th August 2004

but wouldnt that mean that there should be less brake fluid remaining.... I havent needed to top up....

I'lll get the brake fluid changed, and see what happens

thanx

**Pegasus** · 19th August 2004

Originally Posted by Undertaker

but wouldnt that mean that there should be less brake fluid remaining.... I havent needed to top up....

Not necessarilly, the brake master cylinder has more than one seal.

It is quite feasible for fluid to make it's way past the piston but still remain within the brake master cylinder itself, and when you let go of the pedal the fluid is making it's way back inside the master cylinder.

**rfcrangers** · 19th August 2004

It is more than poss your master cyclinder matey changer loads of them .problem being pedal just hitting the floor vauxhall no this is a common prob.Also when your there change the b/fluid anyway.

It dosn`t cost much and sorts the prob(as pegasus says it is age on the inner selas and it is jut drawing air so no pressure.

regards:thumbs

**nathan2911** · 20th August 2004

Yeh i say it's just old brake fluid needs changing, need to bleed every wheel and make sure that every drop of flkuid in the system is new. Oh and no air bubbles are in the systems or you'll be in some serious shit