Brake problem! Need help!
06-02-2011, 06:51 PM
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Brake problem! Need help!
i have own my 8 for about 4 years now, I'm experiencing some brake issue with my 8. My brake doesnt seem to work very well, it is very hard to explain, once in a blue moon ( its happen to me 5 times since i got the car, once was about 3 years ago and 4 times within the past year) when i drive the car hard and apply brake it feels like the brake doesnt stop the car at all. It feels like a mixed between very very bad brake fade and ABS kicking in, and sometimes it even makes the car pull to either left or right. I know this sounds like my brakes r just cooked and i was on the brake too hard. but no when this happens i am usually not braking very hard at all. i have tracked the car many many times and never had a problem at the track. it only happens when i drive up on the hills. one of the reason i know its not brake fade is because it doesnt happen at all coming downhill, which is putting more stress on the front brakes normally.
i have flushed the brake fluid it is very clean, i have checked all my suspension joints. they are all in good shape. i am running hawk hp-s and factory rotors in the front. they both have a good amount of meat left. i was guessing that it could be a ABS sensor problem, i have heard that some s2000 have similar problem and their fix is usually the ABS sensor or some small gear inside the hub where it triggers the ABS.
I know 5 times in the 4 years since ive own the car is not very often, but on the hills i cant really take any chances. if anyone had similar problem like this please let me know what the fix is, i would greatly appreciate it.
i have flushed the brake fluid it is very clean, i have checked all my suspension joints. they are all in good shape. i am running hawk hp-s and factory rotors in the front. they both have a good amount of meat left. i was guessing that it could be a ABS sensor problem, i have heard that some s2000 have similar problem and their fix is usually the ABS sensor or some small gear inside the hub where it triggers the ABS.
I know 5 times in the 4 years since ive own the car is not very often, but on the hills i cant really take any chances. if anyone had similar problem like this please let me know what the fix is, i would greatly appreciate it.
Last edited by chuuuma; 06-02-2011 at 06:54 PM. Reason: spelling
06-02-2011, 07:23 PM
#2
You have a number of places here you need to look. So I will make a list for you, but as far as instructions on each that would be a very long post.
1. Start with the master cylinder. You might need to rebuild the seals here. If fluid is leaking past the seal then you will be having problems maintaining pressure while breaking. So I would start by rebuilding the master cylinder, I would also do step 2 regardless of the outcome of this.
2. The brake hoses start to flex over time. They are rubber that is exposed to a lot of heat. Being said you will need to replace them with stainless steel lines to fix the (mushy) brake pedal feel. Just like any rubber part they wear down and stainless steel braided lines fixes this issue.
3. Brake reinforcement - known problem on our car, and an easy fix. Many companies make a brake booster reinforcement for our car which helps firm up the brakes.
4. You need to tear down all 4 brakes, and check the floating pins. If they are seized or were not greased properly then the break pad cant float as it wears down.
5. Make sure you are bleeding the brake fluid every 6 months - year. The brake fluid breakes down over time and doesn't work as well. Keeping it as fresh as possible will help you.
6. Last resort would be to check the ABS module, but the ABS module should not kick in for no reason. Most of the time your ABS light will come on if you have a problem in the ABS module. If none of the things above fix your problem, the last resort would be to tear down the ABS module. Its very time consuming, and if you mess up very expensive.
EDIT:
7. I forgot to mention check yoru tires. Tires are a huge part of the braking system, and cheap/creappy/poorly worn tires can cause braking issues. Also have someone check your brake rotor alignment. This is a little known thing that can be done to make sure the rotors are turning properly. Shims can be put in place if the rotor doesnt glide perfectly straight.
1. Start with the master cylinder. You might need to rebuild the seals here. If fluid is leaking past the seal then you will be having problems maintaining pressure while breaking. So I would start by rebuilding the master cylinder, I would also do step 2 regardless of the outcome of this.
2. The brake hoses start to flex over time. They are rubber that is exposed to a lot of heat. Being said you will need to replace them with stainless steel lines to fix the (mushy) brake pedal feel. Just like any rubber part they wear down and stainless steel braided lines fixes this issue.
3. Brake reinforcement - known problem on our car, and an easy fix. Many companies make a brake booster reinforcement for our car which helps firm up the brakes.
4. You need to tear down all 4 brakes, and check the floating pins. If they are seized or were not greased properly then the break pad cant float as it wears down.
5. Make sure you are bleeding the brake fluid every 6 months - year. The brake fluid breakes down over time and doesn't work as well. Keeping it as fresh as possible will help you.
6. Last resort would be to check the ABS module, but the ABS module should not kick in for no reason. Most of the time your ABS light will come on if you have a problem in the ABS module. If none of the things above fix your problem, the last resort would be to tear down the ABS module. Its very time consuming, and if you mess up very expensive.
EDIT:
7. I forgot to mention check yoru tires. Tires are a huge part of the braking system, and cheap/creappy/poorly worn tires can cause braking issues. Also have someone check your brake rotor alignment. This is a little known thing that can be done to make sure the rotors are turning properly. Shims can be put in place if the rotor doesnt glide perfectly straight.
06-03-2011, 11:58 AM
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first of all i want to thank you for the input
I checked my master already, it seems like its in good shape ( no leak)
i will replace the brake line very soon.
i dont think its the firewall flex, because that would not explain why it has only done it on the hills n not at the track.
i am running ps2 on all 4 corner so i doubt its the tires.
will tear apart all 4 brakes this weekend when i have time to regrease the sliding pin.
there are a some things i forgot to mention
1. this only happens during when the car is been driven hard (uphill),like when i brake from 2nd gear 7-8.5k rpm
2. when this happens the ABS light does not come up neither does the tractioncontrol light
I checked my master already, it seems like its in good shape ( no leak)
i will replace the brake line very soon.
i dont think its the firewall flex, because that would not explain why it has only done it on the hills n not at the track.
i am running ps2 on all 4 corner so i doubt its the tires.
will tear apart all 4 brakes this weekend when i have time to regrease the sliding pin.
there are a some things i forgot to mention
1. this only happens during when the car is been driven hard (uphill),like when i brake from 2nd gear 7-8.5k rpm
2. when this happens the ABS light does not come up neither does the tractioncontrol light
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