Brakes! Question about pedal feel.

Hi,

Could anyone explain this?

Today it seemed every time I wanted to use the brakes I had to pump the pedal to get it to have a better feel to it.

Brake fluid is full.

What should I be checking?

sounds like u have air in the brake lines
give it a bleed and check it out
you could have some weepy wheel cyclinders giving you some grief

If the master cylinder rear seal is shot it can suck air in.
You can bleed it till the cows come home and it won't come good.
You will need a new master cylinder in this case.

^ maybe true but.. u need to start somewhere 🤪
for me a series of elimination starting with the basics before the BIG one I would of thought but hey go straight for the jugular if you will
give a few of these things a look
surely one of them will need attention if your problem persists
good luck n let us know how you go

Adjust your rear shoes.............then your handbrake will work better and your front pads will stop smoking after heavy braking !

Check your front wheel bearings - a loose bearing will let the wheel wobble slightly and push the pads back into the calipers - hence the pumping. Happened to me a while back.

Thanks H I'll keep you updated!

Craig thanks for the heads up! I'll try to figure out when I can come by.

Thanks Jeff wheel seems ok.

many problems are found with your eyes. Have a look for brake fluid leaks.

Any dark patches around the bottom of the brake backing plates, or anywhere on the brake lines, joins, flexible hoses, or around and below the master cylinder.
If its a leaking wheel cylinder in one of the drum brakes you might catch it before it contaminates the brake shoe. Cos once that happens they need to be replaced, as a pair of shoes. And that will probably mean the drum will need to be skimmed to suit as well.

Craig Torrens wrote:Adjust your rear shoes.............then your handbrake will work better and your front pads will stop smoking after heavy braking !

I agree with Craig, sounds like your drums need to be adjusted.

Hi

You can always tell if your rear brakes need adjusting when the pedal feels better after the handbrake is pulled up.

Steve

vvwbeetle wrote:Hi,

Could anyone explain this?

Today it seemed every time I wanted to use the brakes I had to pump the pedal to get it to have a better feel to it.

Brake fluid is full.

What should I be checking?

Firstly has this just happened?

no work has been done on the brakes?

as it sounds like You have air in the brake system...

Air is compressible whereas brake fluid isn't...

does the pedal move when You pull the hand brake on?

Do You have a single brake system or a dual system ?
[dual lines and dual master cylinder]
You can tell by the master cylinder... if it has two pipes/hoses coming out of it its a dual system...

but as said, a leak is usually easy to see as there will be brake fluid where its leaking... check all wheels and the back of the brake drums etc..

LEE

Craig Torrens wrote:Adjust your rear shoes.............then your handbrake will work better and your front pads will stop smoking after heavy braking !

+1 if they are too far from the drum surface it will make a low pedal that needs pumping. If its low and needs pumping but at the same time feeds firm then its your rear shoes.

If it needs pumping and feels soft and spongy it needs bleeding or a remote chance you have maladjusted shoes with ballooning hoses at the same time but thats unlikely.

I did notice that it only took a quick pump and it felt better.

If I pulled the hand brake on slightly it had a better feel.

They don't feel like they have a fade just a long pedal initially then better once I do that quick pump.

vvwbeetle wrote:I did notice that it only took a quick pump and it felt better.

If I pulled the hand brake on slightly it had a better feel.

They don't feel like they have a fade just a long pedal initially then better once I do that quick pump.

sounds like Your rear drums need adjusting up..
Your hand brake will work better too..

Not sure if it will fix the pumping the brakes...

I just fitted new brake pads to Mine and they do feel better
although the old ones still had a bit of brake material on them
but the new ones are very thick compared to them..
so, the pedal doesn't have to go as far..

LEE

68AutoBug wrote:

vvwbeetle wrote:I did notice that it only took a quick pump and it felt better.

If I pulled the hand brake on slightly it had a better feel.

They don't feel like they have a fade just a long pedal initially then better once I do that quick pump.

sounds like Your rear drums need adjusting up..
Your hand brake will work better too..

Not sure if it will fix the pumping the brakes...

I just fitted new brake pads to Mine and they do feel better
although the old ones still had a bit of brake material on them
but the new ones are very thick compared to them..
so, the pedal doesn't have to go as far..

LEE

calipers auto adjust as the pad wears so your better feel is due to new pad material and less heat build up due to more material to diffuse the heat thro 😉

Just a follow up!
Rear brakes adjusted and feeling much better now!

Craig Torrens wrote:Adjust your rear shoes.............then your handbrake will work better and your front pads will stop smoking after heavy braking !

haha I am shocked how long it took before someone mention this 😂

always check basics first especially when a simple common little issue like this is most common and easiest to fix.

vlad01 wrote:

Craig Torrens wrote:Adjust your rear shoes.............then your handbrake will work better and your front pads will stop smoking after heavy braking !

haha I am shocked how long it took before someone mention this 😂

always check basics first especially when a simple common little issue like this is most common and easiest to fix.

Shocked at how long it took? it was answered the day the thread was made....

as in the number of posts, 4 of them ! 🤪