Hi all -

I recently bought octavia(old - 90BHP with no ABS) and found braking slightly poor . I contacted dealer and they feel braking is normal and working as other cars. One of my friend had similar experience later he changed the tyres to Michelin replacing Good year (OE fit) and feels braking efficiency had increased significantly.

Had anyone faced similar problem? I am planing to change the tyres as well. Any inputs on this would be grateful.

Thx, Anand

Welcome

Just how hard do you need to brake?

Can the dealer get it on an MOT brake tester to show you the efficiencies?

I've got a 90 bhp TDI too, front discs, rear drums.

Brakes seem ok to me, although the octy is quite a heavy bus, I've yet to wear a set of front pads out in my 103k & 4 years of driving it!

The original tyres on mine were Continental Fuel Savers, now running Dunlop Hydra Grips on front & Avon ZV3s on rear, as summer tyres.

My winter tyres are badged as Kuhni? made by Hankook.

If you're worried about your brakes,

I'd go to an independent MOT tester & get it put on their rollers.

Hope that helps ... Darren

When was the brake fluid last changed? Don't know how much of a difference this would make, but it is supposed to be changed every couple of years.

Hey folks thanks for the suggestion. I purchased this car just a month back, and dont think problem would be with brake fluid or pads. As you guys suggest, may be i should try testing with independent MOT tester...some of my friends are suggesting- changing the OE trye 195/65/R15 to 205/55/R16 would help..any idea on this..I feel braking is very important for any car and kinda worried now ; if changing the wheel size and tyre would help then I would like to try....

First stop for me would be brake fluid regardless as this can go off for no reason. My brakes were getting to the stage of being useless in under 2 years. Had it all checked and everything was ok. I took the measure of having the fluid changed early and a massive improvement.

I didn't realise they made the Octy without ABS, all seems a bit odd to me.

When I apply brake, most of the time car goes and stops almost kissing the bumper of car in front... this is kind of making my drive uncomfy in city traffic

Guess i must have a heavy boot:

33,000 miles now and already a complete set of new tyres and new front and rear pads fitted :thumbdwn:

But i suppose being a Taxi its understandable :confused:

When I apply brake, most of the time car goes and stops almost kissing the bumper of car in front... this is kind of making my drive uncomfy in city traffic

Yep, definitely get a brake fluid change when it will be under £50.

While this is being done I'd alsohave the brakes checked over for disk/pad thickness and serviced as required to make sure sliders and springs are moving freely as needed rather than seized up or dragging.

No point taking any chances with the brakes.

If none of the above advice helps:

Perhaps you could find someone else with the same car and have a quick drive to compare? In my experience if you find yourself constantly worrying about stopping - there is a problem!

Although the brakes may be efficient enough, you may be lacking assistance from the brake servo and therefore needing to use undue effort? This could be due to a servo fault, or a lack of vacuum from the vacuum pump and associated valve(s?) and pipework.

Are you constantly locking the brakes up? (i assume you are not?)

If you are not then the tyres have got nothing to do with it, it wont matter what tyres you fit it still wont stop.

So it is either: (or a combination)

brake fluid needs changing,

poor quality pads,

leaking or seized pistons/wheel cylinders/servo.

If however you are locking them up, then you are braking too hard or late, as Michelin tyres are good and shouldn't lock up all the time.

I wonder. Is it possible to uprate the discs to 280s by changing the caliper brackets? I know some models have 280mm discs rather than 256mm, and use the same calipers.

That said I'd agree, unless you're locking up regularly, you've got a basic problem with the fluid, the flexipipes or the pads or cylinders.

I am not constantly locking the brake up. As you said, even after changing tyres if the problem exists, then I will end up loosing money and time on this. Let me try to drive similar car and compare as suggested. This will definitely give some clue.

Let me reach out to dealer one more time and see what they suggest...

Most of the brake checks are quite DIYable, given 2 people for hose expansion checks.

You can easily eliminate a servo assistance problem - should behave as below:

Engine OFF - Depress brake pedal several times to exhaust vacuum.

Keep brake firmly down, START engine - should be noticeable 'give' as vacuum builds.

Leave pedal alone and let run for several minutes - then switch OFF.

Brake should first feel 'normal', but then feel firmer/decreasing stroke each time pressed.

:iagree:

Similarly, a swelling hose will be dead obvious if you remove a wheel, and get an assistant to attempt to embed the brake pedal in the carpet with the engine running, and you watching the hose.

I really believe it is the brake fluid as this sort of stopping power was exactly what i found before I got mine changed. IMHO for the sake of £50 even at a main dealer it isn't worth the risk and it is something worth checking.