Strange braking issue

Rickster

Rickster

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Hi all, so I took a car out for a test drive the other day and its perfect for me but I did notice something odd with the car.

I wont be paying for this if it needs to be repaired as the dealer should cover this.

So the brakes are very sensitive , which is fine they are prolly new and just need to be worn in, but the thing is when you start to brake it does indeed brake but as soon as you push just a tab harder they bite hard.

So we drove for about 30 min and since i know a bit about cars i decided to touch the drums and they are hardly warm.


Is this an issue?

@FiestaST
 
Drum brakes are very efficient braking systems, sometimes too efficient, so they are controlled or retarded usually by means of a load sensing valve. This is done so that they don't lock up easily when empty whilst giving enough braking force when loaded.

The drums fitted to newish suv's,bakkies etc. are very oversized and hence won't generate much heat as there is plenty heat soak(a big chunk of cast iron) and they probably didn't work very hard to kick off with.

I would hazard a guess that if you had touched one of the front discs your finger would have made a funny sizzling sound after the test drive.
Provided the brake pedal has a good hard positive feel with no sponginess you are good to go.
 
Try the following. Drive somewhere safe at a 100km/h. do a emergency stop from 100kmh to 30 kmh.
do not come to a full stop. repeat this 10 times. This will seat the brake pads and disks.
 
Rickster said:
Hi all, so I took a car out for a test drive the other day and its perfect for me but I did notice something odd with the car.

I wont be paying for this if it needs to be repaired as the dealer should cover this.

So the brakes are very sensitive , which is fine they are prolly new and just need to be worn in, but the thing is when you start to brake it does indeed brake but as soon as you push just a tab harder they bite hard.

So we drove for about 30 min and since i know a bit about cars i decided to touch the drums and they are hardly warm.


Is this an issue?

@FiestaST
Click to expand...
What vehicle was this?
 
Rickster said:
Hi all, so I took a car out for a test drive the other day and its perfect for me but I did notice something odd with the car.

I wont be paying for this if it needs to be repaired as the dealer should cover this.

So the brakes are very sensitive , which is fine they are prolly new and just need to be worn in, but the thing is when you start to brake it does indeed brake but as soon as you push just a tab harder they bite hard.

So we drove for about 30 min and since i know a bit about cars i decided to touch the drums and they are hardly warm.


Is this an issue?

@FiestaST
Click to expand...

Nothing major. I drove a 2014 2.0 TDI VW Caddy as a company vehicle, and those brake were always a bit hard. In it's 3 major services by the agent, they said nothing was wrong. We upgraded to a 2016 VW Caddy last year, (new Gen) and the brakes were the exactly the same. Seems that Caddy's have sensitive brakes.

My 2002 MGTF 160 was soft in comparison, and my 2013 Alfa 159 is quite similar. You get used to the car... be it soft or hard.
 
genetic said:
Nothing major. I drove a 2014 2.0 TDI VW Caddy as a company vehicle, and those brake were always a bit hard. In it's 3 major services by the agent, they said nothing was wrong. We upgraded to a 2016 VW Caddy last year, (new Gen) and the brakes were the exactly the same. Seems that Caddy's have sensitive brakes.

My 2002 MGTF 160 was soft in comparison, and my 2013 Alfa 159 is quite similar. You get used to the car... be it soft or hard.
Click to expand...
My work caddy is the same, a lot older but the brakes are super sensitive. You get used to it quickly.
 
If you brake hard do the wheels lock up? If yes, you have a problem, if no, enjoy having good brakes. That car should have ABS and thus getting the wheels to lock should be near impossible.
 
DĂĽber said:
Drum brakes are very efficient braking systems, sometimes too efficient, so they are controlled or retarded usually by means of a load sensing valve. This is done so that they don't lock up easily when empty whilst giving enough braking force when loaded.

The drums fitted to newish suv's,bakkies etc. are very oversized and hence won't generate much heat as there is plenty heat soak(a big chunk of cast iron) and they probably didn't work very hard to kick off with.

I would hazard a guess that if you had touched one of the front discs your finger would have made a funny sizzling sound after the test drive.
Provided the brake pedal has a good hard positive feel with no sponginess you are good to go.
Click to expand...

Assuming the drums are at the rear, they won't be doing much of the braking work anyway and are used more to provide stability while the discs up front to the bulk of the braking work, which also contributes to the difference in temperature.
 
In my current car its lighter than the Ford and my rear drums get nice and hot.
 
thechamp said:
It is an old car, brakes not releasing fully after breaking could be what is causing the drums to heat up.
Click to expand...

I had an issue in the past when they did bind but now they are 100% free but still getting hot.

I have a co worker with the same ford, if his are indeed hot what could the problem be for my future car?
 
Rickster said:
I had an issue in the past when they did bind but now they are 100% free but still getting hot.

I have a co worker with the same ford, if his are indeed hot what could the problem be for my future car?
Click to expand...
I have seen people who sit on brakes for the whole time instead of reducing the speed and let the car coast down, I can't help but feel for the poor brakes.

Driving styles and all that, the way people speed by past you tp overtake while the light is red 500m ahead?
 
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