Hi guys

I have a 2003 1.9 sdi and have a braking problem i cant get to the bottom of.

The brakes became poor, the ABS light was on one second and off the next, the handbrake warning light was flashing and beeping (the handbrake was off) the brakes felt like the ABS was cutting in, but only softly. What can be described as a grinding noise can be heard in the car when the brake pedal is depressed. I got it home, jacked it up and I noticed the boot on the nearside cv joint had come loose. The big outer clip had disappeared? and the grease had come out of the joint and smeared the disc and pads etc. So i took it all to bits, cleaned everyting in sight including the ABS sensor, new clip and more grease in cv joint. All looked good and i put it all back together.

After a number of test drives and numerous dismantlings, the problem persists. When first driving the car the ABS light stays off but the grinding and vibrating and noise is there. After 5 minutes the noises, vibrating and grinding stops, but the ABS light comes on?

Any ideas and any advice is greatly appreciated.

My guess the the CV joint was already cream crackered due to the grease coming out and water getting in, shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted as they say. I assume the brake pads and discs are not worn down too much. Next culprit could be a wheel bearing causing the grinding noise. ABS lights up, clean all the 4 sensors and check they have not come loose.

First I would check the ABS reluctor ring for damage.

If that seems OK, I would get the car scanned. It will give you a better idea of what the ABS problem is. It is interesting that the noise stops when the ABS is disabled (ABS light on).

First I would check the ABS reluctor ring for damage.

If that seems OK, I would get the car scanned. It will give you a better idea of what the ABS problem is. It is interesting that the noise stops when the ABS is disabled (ABS light on).

Yeah thats what i cant get my head round either. Tested it again tonight - noise for 5 minutes, then no noise but ABS light comes on. The discs and pads are all good. the wheel bearing is new as well. I'll check the rest of the sensors tomorrow and see if i get anywhere with them.

As the grease has splattered itself all over the place, I would get a cotton bud soaked in Methylated spirits and carefully clean the relucter ring and sensor.

DB.

As the grease has splattered itself all over the place, I would get a cotton bud soaked in Methylated spirits and carefully clean the relucter ring and sensor.

DB.

Ok, is the relutor ring on the hub assembly? If it is, i assume your suggesting that i put the cotton bud down the hole that the ABS sensor is in and rotating the hub to clean? If not, what is it that i should do?

cheers for your response.

Yes it's on the inner part of the hub assembly, when I did mine, I think when on full lock you can see the shining reluctor ring, I rotated the hub by hand and just held the cotton bud to clean as it turned.

DB.

Yes it's on the inner part of the hub assembly, when I did mine, I think when on full lock you can see the shining reluctor ring, I rotated the hub by hand and just held the cotton bud to clean as it turned.

DB.

Thanks for the response. I'll try this when the rain stops.

cheeRS