Ok, so I have a problem with my 312mm brakes!

After they were fitted I was warned to take it gently for a few hundred miles which I did. After covering around 500 miles I then had the car remapped.

The problem is basically they the brakes aren't all that good for some reason :-/ when driving normally and easing on the brakes they feel more competent than the standard ones, but if I drive with any real conviction I feel like I hav to press fairly 'hard' on the brake pedal to slow the car down, they don't feel like they have much 'bite' to them if that makes any sense? :-/

This is very disconcerting & spoiling the fun I am having with my new map - can anyone here shed any light on what it could be??

I can provide more info if needed

Thanks in advance :-)

**** discs and pads, Or your fluid is FUBAR'd

The discs and pads are brand new (PAGID)

My mechanic friend didn't change the fluid at the time. He just crimped the pipe to stop it escaping & then did the pump the pedal bleed valve thing.

Braking seems good so long as your not stopping from higher speeds :-/

Reduced pressure due to crimping pipe?

(a big no no as it crushes the internal braiding)

Reduced pressure due to crimping pipe?

(a big no no as it crushes the internal braiding)

Ah - how much would that be to fix?

Maybe because you have a bigger brake set up you think you can push them a lot harder.

Sadly this is not the case all oe brakes will fade given the right idiot behind the wheel.

sent from my dribble bus using ketchup !

Maybe because you have a bigger brake set up you think you can push them a lot harder.

Sadly this is not the case all oe brakes will fade given the right idiot behind the wheel.

I don't doubt that - but all I was doing was accelerating hard off a slip road onto the motorway. I looked at the speedo, realised I was doing 90 and immediately came off the gas, braked to shave off some speed quickly & found that light / medium pressure didnt do a thing. I had to press them very firmly just to drop 15mph and thats not right. I felt that they were trying but speed wasnt coming off quick enough. I don't feel I was expecting much at all & my cooper s would have had no trouble at all. Suddenly my fabulous larger brakes seemed out of their depth :-(

A full bleed of the brake fluid using a pressure bleeder like a Gunson's "easy-bleed" kit is the best......pumping the pedal is carp and crimping the hose is a no no these days......sounds like you have some air still in the system!!...or the hose is fubar!!

Are new hoses expensive?

Also while we're on the subject, they didn't torque the bolts up either but used a couple of drops of 'loctite' - is that ok to do?? :-/

Guide pin bolts should be torqued up correctly and blue loctite used as well!

Brake pipes are fairly cheap I think uprated ones go for about £50 a pair. Id get new pipes either standard or uprated then have the system bled.

Ok thanks, which pipes would be considered an upgrade?

That would be the following

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-Fabia-VRS-99-01-Gooodridge-Braided-Brake-Hoses-/250829441183?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3a6699889f

firms up the pedal

Are they much better than standard ones then if both a braided?

I found that a change in brake fluid make a huge difference, it feel alot smoother and effortless braking compared to old brakes/old fluid.

Righto I'll give that a go :-) any ideas how long it would take to change brake pipes & renew the fluid? I'm gonna get a proper mechanic to do it this time

I found that a change in brake fluid make a huge difference, it feel alot smoother and effortless braking compared to old brakes/old fluid.

Yup, me too. Removed a lot of the "**** I'm not going to stop" feeling when driving hard as well

Great that's decided then thanks chaps! :-)

Are u all in agreement that the lines will need changing too cos of the crimping thing?? :-/ is there a way I can tell if they've been knackered?

No way of telling really unless you have them bled and they are still crap but you run the risk of having to do the bleeding twice.

As they have been crimped I would just change them for the sake of £50 - plus its a nice little upgrade.

No way of telling really unless you have them bled and they are still crap but you run the risk of having to do the bleeding twice.

As they have been crimped I would just change them for the sake of £50 - plus its a nice little upgrade.

+1

get a Gunson's easybled kit..like this to do the bleeding....very good results...had mine for 15yrs!!!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gunson-G4062-Eezibleed-Kit/dp/B001KTFIWA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321893011&sr=8-1

Must do mine soon, been putting it off for too long. Just need to hunt around for the clutch nipple

Must do mine soon, been putting it off for too long. Just need to hunt around for the clutch nipple

Did my mates mpi on the weekend....clutch bleed nipple requires a 9mm slim open ended spanner and it is on the left side below the battery (under the air intake pipe for the air box) and just behind the gear selector mech...bit of a faf to get get to...almost disconnected the cables to make access better!!....but the problem was worse as I had 8mm and 10mm spanners...no 9mm so had to use a small adjustable...which took up room!!!! AAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!

That would be the following

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-Fabia-VRS-99-01-Gooodridge-Braided-Brake-Hoses-/250829441183?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3a6699889f

firms up the pedal

Thanks for the link mate, ive just placed an order :-)

Your welcome dude