Odd feeling through brake pedal.

[jonbenj]

I get a strange feeling through the brake pedal when applying them at very slow speeds, or if facing downhill and applying them. It’s hard to explain but feels aas though something in the system is moving. I wondered if wear in the suspension could cause this. The car has done about 74k miles and passed mot a few months ago with no issues. 

[Ootohere]

Best that you get the car in ASAP to be checked by a mechanic who can get the car on a ramp.  Not at a Tyre & Exhaust Centre.

Many things could be the cause.

[jonbenj]

Should clarify it’s not suddenly developed, maybe just slightly more noticeable. I had a quick poke and prod the other week when I was changing the oil and didn’t spot anything untoward, but was in a rush to get it back off my ramps as we were going out. 

[KenONeill]

59 minutes ago, jonbenj said:

It’s hard to explain but feels as though something in the system is moving.

Well, you could just be braking hard enough to set off the ABS, which can feel like a pulsating kickback through the pedal, and is "normal operation of the system". Beyond that, I'd suggest a "good local garage or independent VAG specialist". @e-Roottoot or I might even be able to recommend someone if you say more exactly where you live and work.

 

Do you get a persistent or occasional ABS or ASR warning light lighting up?

[Ootohere]

@jonbenj since you looked and could not see anything and no advisory came up at the MOT you best have a new set of eyes check to see if it is brakes as in pads or caliper bolts, suspension or steering items  like bushes, or anything really.  Have the brakes had any sort of servicing recently or ever?

[Paul52]

I agree with the advice get a competent mechanic to take a look and be safe - the last thing you want is a sudden failure to tell you what the problem was. 

 

One thought but you say you use the e-Corsa for the day-to-day driving and your other cars for the fun stuff. Just a thought but could the different "feel" be anything to do with using the fun cars less during Covid?

[Ootohere]

@Paul52 I never posted about me having a different feel.

The EV is the fun car, just like driving a Kart @ a Karting Track or a Dodgem.

Press the pedal and go, and go far and do not pay about £6 for every 45 miles or so driven.

 

EV's have pretty good brakes, there is just not much need to be using them other than to do the likes of an emergency stop.

One of the few things that got serviced, other than the pollen filter being changed.

Edited 31 May, 2021 by e-Roottoot

[jonbenj]

Front Brakes haven’t been done for a while. The mot tester said afterwards he was expecting to find something when he moved car from yard into workshop but ‘twas all good. Definitely not abs. I thought maybe play in suspension somewhere, drop links perhaps?  Will seek a second opinion. 

[Titanium_Man]

Check the bottom ball joints. My wife described the same symptoms as you, had a quick check and found this ..... I’ll replaced the lower arm on Tuesday and expect it to be gone..... though not 100% guaranteed and I may also need to keep looking 

Edited 31 May, 2021 by jars

[jonbenj]

Regarding local recommendations, I’m in Grangemouth, work in Dunfermline. Have a few local guys who seems decent ish but not VAG specialists. 

[jonbenj]

Would like to think if my ball joints looked like that the tester would’ve noticed but who knows. 

[Ootohere]

They have to go sometime, they can not be shot until they are shot.

MOT testers might put something as an advisory but they can not fail stuff that is not a fail.  People get upset at that.

[Titanium_Man]

11 minutes ago, e-Roottoot said:

They have to go sometime, they can not be shot until they are shot.

MOT testers might put something as an advisory but they can not fail stuff that is not a fail.  People get upset at that.

This!!

 

I actually fully serviced my wife’s car last Tuesday before she took it to Cornwall from Bristol, so I know it was fine. The day she came back she told me about the issue. Took it for a drive and felt it myself.... there were 3 days between me looking at those parts and the symptoms appearing. 
 

It can and sometime does happen that quickly.

Edited 31 May, 2021 by jars

[Paul52]

"I never posted about me having a different feel". No, you absolutely didn't. I'm having one of those days  I'm afraid.

 

"The EV is the fun car, just like driving a Kart @ a Karting Track or a Dodgem". My only experience of electric cars is driving the only electric Peugeot 106 outside of Coventry which my then team had as a pool car during one of the European Union funded transport projects. It was about as exciting as it sounds and I avoided it if I possibly could because of the constant fear of running over an unwary pedestrian. It wasn't completely fossil fuel free as it needed 1/2 gal of petrol once in a while to run the heater - when it worked, which was usually late May to early September when it would retire for the winter. Things have come on a long way since then.

[jonbenj]

An update. It was the rear wishbone bushes. Think the technical term is gubbed. I replaced the front pads and discs last week, lots of life left but discs badly grooved. My local Indy sorted the bushes and changed brake fluid. Job done. 

[Austin 7]

Hi

 

Was that the rear bushes of the front wishbones, or the bushes of the rear wishbones ?

[jonbenj]

Rear bush of front wishbone.