2012 Range Rover Evoque brake system problem.

2012 Range Rover Evoque brake system problem.

Author
Discussion

Jamie03M3

Original Poster:

34 posts

80 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2022
quotequote all
I have an ongoing issue where air keeps getting into my braking system.

I have bled it numerous times and had a brand new LR master cylinder.

The pedal will stay firm for a week or so then starts to go soft.

Would brake lines or pistons seals be a good thing to change?

I have pressure bled and used the 2 person system.

Any ideas / previous experience??

Tony1963

5,657 posts

176 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2022
quotequote all
Just as a base line, how much would a garage charge to do it?

Dashnine

1,577 posts

64 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2022
quotequote all
When you’re bleeding it, does any one caliper take more pumps of the pedal to get their air out? If so, there’s a leak on that circuit.

Jamie03M3

Original Poster:

34 posts

80 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2022
quotequote all
Tony1963 said:
Just as a base line, how much would a garage charge to do it?
I think its not a straight forward issue.

A garage may have to tinker for days to find the issue!

Jamie03M3

Original Poster:

34 posts

80 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2022
quotequote all
Dashnine said:
When you’re bleeding it, does any one caliper take more pumps of the pedal to get their air out? If so, there’s a leak on that circuit.
As I would expect the furthest caliper away from the reservoir has the most air in it. The opposite diagonal front caliper has minimal air.

The reservoir always stays full with no signs of leakage anywhere.

All pads and disks have plenty of meat and the LHF caliper is new.


Jamie03M3

Original Poster:

34 posts

80 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2022
quotequote all
It would appear that the air may be drawn in when the brake pedal is on the recovery stroke as the pressure comes off.

Air is present at all calipers.

I thought I had cracked it with the second master cylinder. The pedal was great for a week, but now the softness is returning!

GreenV8S

30,800 posts

298 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2022
quotequote all
Jamie03M3 said:
Air is present at all calipers.
I'm not familiar with that braking system, but air getting into calipers is not normal. Calipers normally only see tidal flow so air would not usually be carried downhill to the calipers. Does that vehicle have any sort of recirculating ABS system that could be pulling air in?

Dashnine

1,577 posts

64 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2022
quotequote all
GreenV8S said:
Jamie03M3 said:
Air is present at all calipers.
I'm not familiar with that braking system, but air getting into calipers is not normal. Calipers normally only see tidal flow so air would not usually be carried downhill to the calipers. Does that vehicle have any sort of recirculating ABS system that could be pulling air in?
He means air coming out of the calipers when bleeding, not in or at the caliper end of the pipe.

GreenV8S

30,800 posts

298 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2022
quotequote all
Dashnine said:
He means air coming out of the calipers when bleeding, not in or at the caliper end of the pipe.
Yes, that is obvious.

Dashnine

1,577 posts

64 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2022
quotequote all
GreenV8S said:
Dashnine said:
He means air coming out of the calipers when bleeding, not in or at the caliper end of the pipe.
Yes, that is obvious.
So why write your comment:
GreenV8S said:
air getting into calipers is not normal.

Jamie03M3

Original Poster:

34 posts

80 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2022
quotequote all
Guys thanks for your replies.

To clarify I did mean air is present at all calipers when bleeding.

On reflection the air must becoming from a central point to arrive at all calipers.

Finding that point appears to be a real PITA.

GreenV8S

30,800 posts

298 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2022
quotequote all
Dashnine said:
So why write your comment:
GreenV8S said:
air getting into calipers is not normal.
Because it's true. It is not normal for air to get into the calipers after they have been filled and bled.

Either the bleed nipple is leaking, or the cylinder seals are leaking, or air is flowing through the pipes. None of those are common failures. An external leak that allows air in will almost certainly allow fluid out under the sort of pressures in a typical braking system. It is very unusual to have air flowing through brake lines because these usually only see relatively small amounts of tidal flow when the brakes are applied/released, and calipers tend to be quite low in the circuit relative to the brake master, proportioning valve and ABS system.

Either there is a mistake in the brake beeding process (air is being introduced and then bled out and it wasn't actually in the caliper prior to the bleeding) or something else is introducing air into the brake lines - and that would need to be quite close to the lowest point in the circuit due to the previously mentioned tidal flow and the fact that air will settle out upwards. A faulty ABS pump close to the calipers might do it, but that isn't common in my experience.

Dashnine

1,577 posts

64 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2022
quotequote all
GreenV8S said:
Dashnine said:
So why write your comment:
GreenV8S said:
air getting into calipers is not normal.
Because it's true. It is not normal for air to get into the calipers after they have been filled and bled.

Either the bleed nipple is leaking, or the cylinder seals are leaking, or air is flowing through the pipes. None of those are common failures. An external leak that allows air in will almost certainly allow fluid out under the sort of pressures in a typical braking system. It is very unusual to have air flowing through brake lines because these usually only see relatively small amounts of tidal flow when the brakes are applied/released, and calipers tend to be quite low in the circuit relative to the brake master, proportioning valve and ABS system.

Either there is a mistake in the brake beeding process (air is being introduced and then bled out and it wasn't actually in the caliper prior to the bleeding) or something else is introducing air into the brake lines - and that would need to be quite close to the lowest point in the circuit due to the previously mentioned tidal flow and the fact that air will settle out upwards. A faulty ABS pump close to the calipers might do it, but that isn't common in my experience.
But he never implied air was 'at' the calipers - it was coming out when bleeding and you jumped on air was 'at' the calipers.

Smint

2,313 posts

49 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2022
quotequote all
Only now and again have i come across brakes that have proved difficult to bleed out, clamping the pistons or slave cylinders fully closed proved a cure.
At the very least eliminating calipers from fault might help here.
No doubt you've serviced the brakes fully re cleaning and lubing, ie nothing sticking all pistons free in their bores.

Jamie03M3

Original Poster:

34 posts

80 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2022
quotequote all
GreenV8S said:
Dashnine said:
So why write your comment:
GreenV8S said:
air getting into calipers is not normal.
Because it's true. It is not normal for air to get into the calipers after they have been filled and bled.

Either the bleed nipple is leaking, or the cylinder seals are leaking, or air is flowing through the pipes. None of those are common failures. An external leak that allows air in will almost certainly allow fluid out under the sort of pressures in a typical braking system. It is very unusual to have air flowing through brake lines because these usually only see relatively small amounts of tidal flow when the brakes are applied/released, and calipers tend to be quite low in the circuit relative to the brake master, proportioning valve and ABS system.

Either there is a mistake in the brake beeding process (air is being introduced and then bled out and it wasn't actually in the caliper prior to the bleeding) or something else is introducing air into the brake lines - and that would need to be quite close to the lowest point in the circuit due to the previously mentioned tidal flow and the fact that air will settle out upwards. A faulty ABS pump close to the calipers might do it, but that isn't common in my experience.
I would like to think my bleed procedure is good. I have tried both methods as previously mentioned.

Interestingly I bled the car about 6 times tonight. Each time I braked hard to get the ABS pump working.

Every time I came back there was air bled from all wheel stations.

I was completely ruling out the ABS pump but after tonight I am seriously considering it as a fail point.

I opened and closed each nipple 5 times every time I bled. This was done for 6 different bleed sessions. Surely this would be enough to purge the air!


Jamie03M3

Original Poster:

34 posts

80 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2022
quotequote all
Smint said:
Only now and again have i come across brakes that have proved difficult to bleed out, clamping the pistons or slave cylinders fully closed proved a cure.
At the very least eliminating calipers from fault might help here.
No doubt you've serviced the brakes fully re cleaning and lubing, ie nothing sticking all pistons free in their bores.
Thanks for your reply!

Brakes were stripped, cleaned and lubed when I did the discs and pads. All bleed nipples were replaced as well.

The pistons are nice and smooth and easy to retract.

I may attempt the bleed with all calipers clamped but for air to be found at all wheel stations I am considering the ABS pump (after having 2 different master cylinders).

stevieturbo

17,745 posts

261 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2022
quotequote all
Jamie03M3 said:
Guys thanks for your replies.

To clarify I did mean air is present at all calipers when bleeding.

On reflection the air must becoming from a central point to arrive at all calipers.

Finding that point appears to be a real PITA.
This makes little sense when it will be totally independent lines from the ABS unit to each corner.

And likely at least 2 independent lines from the master to the ABS unit, possibly more lines

So should be incredibly difficult for air to be shared among all.

What is the history with the vehicle ? How long have you owned it ? Has any brake work been done before this problem appeared ?

Jamie03M3

Original Poster:

34 posts

80 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2022
quotequote all
stevieturbo said:
Jamie03M3 said:
Guys thanks for your replies.

To clarify I did mean air is present at all calipers when bleeding.

On reflection the air must becoming from a central point to arrive at all calipers.

Finding that point appears to be a real PITA.
This makes little sense when it will be totally independent lines from the ABS unit to each corner.

And likely at least 2 independent lines from the master to the ABS unit, possibly more lines

So should be incredibly difficult for air to be shared among all.

Your right it makes no sense at all lol.

The car was fine, we have had it since Feb 2020. The rear pads and discs were done in early 2021. This problem started early this year and started with an ever softening pedal. Master was changed. It firmed for a while then went soft again.



What is the history with the vehicle ? How long have you owned it ? Has any brake work been done before this problem appeared ?

fbwinston

64 posts

207 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2022
quotequote all
if I remember correctly there is an option to bleed the abs module using a suitable diagnostic tool. Manual bleeding may not be sufficient.

stevieturbo

17,745 posts

261 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2022
quotequote all
fbwinston said:
if I remember correctly there is an option to bleed the abs module using a suitable diagnostic tool. Manual bleeding may not be sufficient.
this is true, some vehicles it is essential to do this.

And if the system was allowed to run dry during any works....could well be the problem