Defender Td5 brakes

Defender Td5 brakes

Author
Discussion

Sisu9

Original Poster:

288 posts

109 months

Thursday 16th June 2022
quotequote all
The brakes on my 110 are not as 'good' as they should be, despite new calipers all round, new fluid (x4) Brembo pads (fitted today) no better than the newish Bearmachs that were on previously. Don't you just hate it when you through a bunch of cash at a problem and it makes no difference whatsoever! No man maths can solve this today confused

What next, in order of cheapness - braided hoses, new master cylinder, new servo? I know it doesn't stop like a 911 but it stopped better when it had seized, rusty calipers front and rear. Any ideas much appreciated?

Edited by Sisu9 on Monday 20th June 06:32

100SRV

2,180 posts

249 months

Wednesday 22nd June 2022
quotequote all
Is the vacuum pump providing sufficient "vacuum" for the brake assistance servo to work properly?

Have you bled all of the air out of the hydraulic system?

How many miles have you covered since the refit and did you follow the bedding-in procedure?

camel_landy

5,085 posts

190 months

Thursday 23rd June 2022
quotequote all
Have you tried ‘Genuine’ pads?

FWIW - I prefer them over ‘branded’ pads.

M

Lodelaner

56 posts

177 months

Wednesday 6th July 2022
quotequote all
Having spent a few bob on the brakes with no difference in performance I'd wonder what else might be influencing the performance?

What tyres do you have and what pressures do you run them at?

Sisu9

Original Poster:

288 posts

109 months

Monday 11th July 2022
quotequote all
i went to a specialist here in the UK and he told me thought it was either the servo or the brake pipes. I did the simple check for the servo and upon starting the pedal does sink somewhat so didn't do the suction test.

I'm running brand new GF Goodrich KM3's at 34/38 psi.

Sisu9

Original Poster:

288 posts

109 months

Wednesday 27th July 2022
quotequote all
Just had a thought on this, the brakes became more poor after a garage (not an LR specialist) fitted new calipers all round and rear brake pipes a few months back. I took the car back for the brakes to be bled again, fearing there was air in the system, but nothing really improved.

Just trying to narrow down where I should concentrate my efforts. Any ideas welcome.

ARHarh

4,280 posts

114 months

Wednesday 27th July 2022
quotequote all
You should be concentrating on the parts fitted before the performance changed. How much different are they? Have you changed anything else? Shocks, tyres, suspension tracking?

Sisu9

Original Poster:

288 posts

109 months

Friday 29th July 2022
quotequote all
I've changed the new Bearmach pads for Brembo to see if that made a difference but it didn't. The only other new component was Bearmach calipers and I wouldn't have thought they'd be worse than the rusty and seized originals.

ARHarh

4,280 posts

114 months

Friday 29th July 2022
quotequote all
Not just brake parts, things like tyres shocks 4 tons of stuff in the boot smile Don't know enough about defender brakes but could you have fitted calipers from a different version or were they from a later / better version before you changed them. Defenders tend to be made up of all kinds of parts. More so as they get older.

100SRV

2,180 posts

249 months

Friday 29th July 2022
quotequote all
Could you get it onto a brake dynamometer (MOT station) to measure the actual braking effort?

Is the vaccum assist working - With the engine switched off, press the footbrake repeatedly until the pedal feels firm – this releases any residual vacuum in the system. Still pressing firmly on the brake pedal, start the engine. If the pedal gradually sinks toward the floor of the vehicle with the engine running, vacuum is being generated

Have they perhaps kinked one or both the new brake lines?
Is the flexy to the tee piece atop the rear axle routed correctly and free from kinks?
Is the vehicle unladen?

Sisu9

Original Poster:

288 posts

109 months

Friday 29th July 2022
quotequote all
The vehicle is unladen and has recently passed the MOT. I have also done the pedal sink test. The rear brake pipes have recently replaced. The front pipes were not replaced so I guess there could be a problem there.

Rushjob

1,984 posts

265 months

Friday 29th July 2022
quotequote all
Flexi hoses bulging under pressure??

Sisu9

Original Poster:

288 posts

109 months

Friday 29th July 2022
quotequote all
Yes could be. I've half a mind to buy some braided hoses.

mikeh501

756 posts

188 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2022
quotequote all
had similar symptons on mine, turned out to be a hairline stress fracture of the servo just underneath the master cylinder.

Lodelaner

56 posts

177 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2022
quotequote all
Sisu9 said:
Just had a thought on this, the brakes became more poor after a garage (not an LR specialist) fitted new calipers all round and rear brake pipes a few months back. I took the car back for the brakes to be bled again, fearing there was air in the system, but nothing really improved.

Just trying to narrow down where I should concentrate my efforts. Any ideas welcome.
When you bleed the master cylinder the seals are travelling further down the bore than normal. If they are starting to get old the act of bleeding the brakes can cause the seals to bypass fluid.

That would be my first thing to do (using a quality TRW or OEM part).



Ranger 6

7,185 posts

256 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2022
quotequote all
Is it a soft pedal and the brakes don't feel effective, or is. it a hard pedal and the new tyres are squirming all over the place?

Sisu9

Original Poster:

288 posts

109 months

Wednesday 3rd August 2022
quotequote all
Good advice and makes a lot of sense re the circumstances. Bought a brake cylinder refurb kit and new hoses and will try that. Cheaper fixes first!

The brakes are neither spongy or hard, they're just not that good. This was the case just after the front caliper change and before the new tyres were fitted.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

197 months

Saturday 13th August 2022
quotequote all
Sisu9 said:
I'm running brand new GF Goodrich KM3's at 34/38 psi.
what size?

Sisu9

Original Poster:

288 posts

109 months

Wednesday 17th August 2022
quotequote all
255/85 on Wolfs.

Sisu9

Original Poster:

288 posts

109 months

Tuesday 30th August 2022
quotequote all
Just wanted to report back on this as I think it's also useful for anyone else who experiences problems.

Braided hoses have been fitted front and rear and this has much-improved braking, to the point where the wheels almost locked on tarmac (no ABS). On talking to the mechanic, he told me that although the brake hoses looked ok on the outside they can decompose on the inside and therefore compromise braking. I think with further bedding in of the pads they may improve still further.

Play in the steering was also somewhat improved by only 1/8th tightening of the steering box.