| Author |
Message |
ankh23
Guest
|
 Posted:
Sat Nov 13, 2004 5:07 pm Post subject:
Sudden excessive play in brakes -- ??? |
|
|
Hello all,
I'm auto-mechanically illiterate, and broke to boot. 'hoping someone can
help me diagnose what is probably a straightforward problem (if you're
not auto-mechanically illiterate, that is!).
The vehicle in question is a '94 VW Golf (though I suspect that mine is
a generic problem). Last night I *suddenly* developed very excessive
play when depressing my brake pedal.
The brakes still function adequately, but not well.
Here's what I think is a major clue: after sitting (engine off) for over
an hour, I started up the car. As usual, before turning the key, I
depressed the brake pedal and the clutch pedal. NO play in the brake
pedal. BUT, immediately upon the start of the engine, the brake pedal
went WAY DOWN, to previous problem depth.
Could someone kindly suggest what my problem is, and, perhaps, even, my
expected cost for repair? By any chance could this possibly be as simple
as a fuse that needs to be replaced (haven't checked yet due to
inclement weather)?
Very grateful for any help offered.
[Bonus-points question: why do these sorts of things always seem to
happen on rainy Friday nights, only a couple hours after my mechanic has
closed his shop for the weekend?]
Thanks in advance,
Ken
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Anthony
Guest
|
| Posted:
Sat Nov 13, 2004 7:07 pm Post subject:
Re: Sudden excessive play in brakes -- ??? |
|
|
ankh23 <ankh23@comcast.net> wrote in news:ankh23-9CD6CB.07075813112004
@comcast.dca.giganews.com:
| Quote: | Hello all,
I'm auto-mechanically illiterate, and broke to boot. 'hoping someone
can
help me diagnose what is probably a straightforward problem (if you're
not auto-mechanically illiterate, that is!).
The vehicle in question is a '94 VW Golf (though I suspect that mine is
a generic problem). Last night I *suddenly* developed very excessive
play when depressing my brake pedal.
The brakes still function adequately, but not well.
Here's what I think is a major clue: after sitting (engine off) for
over
an hour, I started up the car. As usual, before turning the key, I
depressed the brake pedal and the clutch pedal. NO play in the brake
pedal. BUT, immediately upon the start of the engine, the brake pedal
went WAY DOWN, to previous problem depth.
Could someone kindly suggest what my problem is, and, perhaps, even, my
expected cost for repair? By any chance could this possibly be as
simple
as a fuse that needs to be replaced (haven't checked yet due to
inclement weather)?
Very grateful for any help offered.
[Bonus-points question: why do these sorts of things always seem to
happen on rainy Friday nights, only a couple hours after my mechanic
has
closed his shop for the weekend?]
Thanks in advance,
Ken
|
My thoughts would be that you have lost the friction material on a pad or
shoe. You need to get this looked at ASAP. If this is indeed what
happened, you will quickly eat up a rotor or drum. The other possibility
is a blown seal in a wheel cylinder, in which case you will be out of
fluid in a short amount of time.
--
Anthony
You can't 'idiot proof' anything....every time you try, they just make
better idiots.
Remove sp to reply via email |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
fweddybear
Guest
|
| Posted:
Sat Nov 13, 2004 9:55 pm Post subject:
Re: Sudden excessive play in brakes -- ??? |
|
|
ankh23 <ankh23@comcast.net> wrote in news:ankh23-9CD6CB.07075813112004
@comcast.dca.giganews.com:
| Quote: | Hello all,
I'm auto-mechanically illiterate, and broke to boot. 'hoping someone
can
help me diagnose what is probably a straightforward problem (if you're
not auto-mechanically illiterate, that is!).
The vehicle in question is a '94 VW Golf (though I suspect that mine is
a generic problem). Last night I *suddenly* developed very excessive
play when depressing my brake pedal.
The brakes still function adequately, but not well.
Here's what I think is a major clue: after sitting (engine off) for
over
an hour, I started up the car. As usual, before turning the key, I
depressed the brake pedal and the clutch pedal. NO play in the brake
pedal. BUT, immediately upon the start of the engine, the brake pedal
went WAY DOWN, to previous problem depth.
Could someone kindly suggest what my problem is, and, perhaps, even, my
expected cost for repair? By any chance could this possibly be as
simple
as a fuse that needs to be replaced (haven't checked yet due to
inclement weather)?
Very grateful for any help offered.
[Bonus-points question: why do these sorts of things always seem to
happen on rainy Friday nights, only a couple hours after my mechanic
has
closed his shop for the weekend?]
Thanks in advance,
Ken
|
| Quote: | My thoughts would be that you have lost the friction material on a pad or
shoe. You need to get this looked at ASAP. If this is indeed what
happened, you will quickly eat up a rotor or drum. The other possibility
is a blown seal in a wheel cylinder, in which case you will be out of
fluid in a short amount of time.
|
| Quote: | --
Anthony
You can't 'idiot proof' anything....every time you try, they just make
better idiots.
Remove sp to reply via email
|
In addition to checking the brakes/pads, also look in the brake fluid
reservoir. It may have lost enough fluid over time simply by wearing out
your pads. You don't say when the last time you changed your brakes was,
but if they have at least 30,000 miles on them, it might be time to consider
replacing them.
Good Luck
Fwed
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TeGGer®
Guest
|
| Posted:
Sat Nov 13, 2004 10:24 pm Post subject:
Re: Sudden excessive play in brakes -- ??? |
|
|
ankh23 <ankh23@comcast.net> sprach im news:ankh23-
9CD6CB.07075813112004@comcast.dca.giganews.com:
| Quote: | Hello all,
I'm auto-mechanically illiterate, and broke to boot. 'hoping someone can
help me diagnose what is probably a straightforward problem (if you're
not auto-mechanically illiterate, that is!).
The vehicle in question is a '94 VW Golf (though I suspect that mine is
a generic problem). Last night I *suddenly* developed very excessive
play when depressing my brake pedal.
The brakes still function adequately, but not well.
Here's what I think is a major clue: after sitting (engine off) for over
an hour, I started up the car. As usual, before turning the key, I
depressed the brake pedal and the clutch pedal. NO play in the brake
pedal. BUT, immediately upon the start of the engine, the brake pedal
went WAY DOWN, to previous problem depth.
|
Does it go to floor if you hold the pedal down long enough, or dies it go
down a certain distance then stay there?
--
TeGGeR® |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ankh23
Guest
|
| Posted:
Sun Nov 14, 2004 1:03 am Post subject:
Re: Sudden excessive play in brakes -- ??? |
|
|
In article <ankh23-9CD6CB.07075813112004@comcast.dca.giganews.com>,
ankh23 <ankh23@comcast.net> wrote:
| Quote: | Hello all,
I'm auto-mechanically illiterate, and broke to boot. 'hoping someone can
help me diagnose what is probably a straightforward problem (if you're
not auto-mechanically illiterate, that is!).
snip
|
Thanks to all who replied; much appreciated. Turns out my brake fluid
was way low and I have a hopefully slow leak @ RR wheel.
Best wishes!
Ken |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
MisterSkippy
Guest
|
| Posted:
Sun Nov 14, 2004 10:50 pm Post subject:
Re: Sudden excessive play in brakes -- ??? |
|
|
On Sat, 13 Nov 2004 15:03:54 -0500, ankh23 <ankh23@comcast.net> wrote:
| Quote: | In article <ankh23-9CD6CB.07075813112004@comcast.dca.giganews.com>,
ankh23 <ankh23@comcast.net> wrote:
Hello all,
I'm auto-mechanically illiterate, and broke to boot. 'hoping someone can
help me diagnose what is probably a straightforward problem (if you're
not auto-mechanically illiterate, that is!).
snip
Thanks to all who replied; much appreciated. Turns out my brake fluid
was way low and I have a hopefully slow leak @ RR wheel.
Best wishes!
Ken
If you have any leak at all you need to get it looked at immediately. |
"When a legislature undertakes to proscribe the exercise of a citizen's
constitutional rights it acts lawlessly and the citizen can take matters into
his own hands and proceed on the basis that such a law is no law at all."
- Justice William O. Douglas |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
Memberlist
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in