My brakes don't work!

atrixblue.-MFR-.

anewman wrote: »

Air in braking system would lead to a spongy pedal.

not disagreeing with you yes air can have that affect,
but bro in laws clio was tampered with shall i say during his swap problem if you remeber my post. when he had it back the pedal was as hard as a peice of oak, the problem was air in the brake lines from calliper to servo non return valve so when the brake was pressed it got harder and harder because air could not travel back through the valve, like when a car isnt started and you pump the brakes and the just get harder till you start the car and curculation of fluid starts back up and the brake servo releases the pressure. or i could be completely wrong but this is how BIL described it when bleeding the brakes as all that came out was air, and he described it like as if a tyre valve had been pushed in to let the air out.

Quinny_2

If it's 3 years old, would it still be under warranty?

Mankysteve

Why are you asking about a safety critical part of your car? don't drive the car and get it towed to the garage if you need to ask you need s professional help.

jackieb

I had a hole in my brake pipe and the symptoms were similar to this. Worked fine some of the time but brake pedal was hard to push in, and slow to stop, at other times. Very frightening. Get it seen to ASAP.

kittiej

Manky, I'm asking because I want an "idea" of what might be wrong and I don't want to be ripped off.

If I'm told things that I've already sort of heard of then it won't panic me as much.

I've taken OH's car to work today too, much less stress.

jackieb

Our brake pipe got replaced and it cost about £60 - that was for an Audi A4 so a very similar car to yours.

cyclonebri1

Leaking/split/dislodged vacuum pipe form the pump as Anewman said;);):money:

anewman

I think JackieB must be referring to vacuum pipe rather than hydraulic brake pipe (if the later had split pedal would sink to floor).

jackieb

anewman wrote: »

I think JackieB must be referring to vacuum pipe rather than hydraulic brake pipe (if the later had split pedal would sink to floor).

Quite possibly. Sorry. I just know my brakes worked fine sometimes, at others the brake pedal wouldn't go down very far and it was frightening! Kittie's experience sounds similar to mine.

kittiej

Hello all.

Just a quickie update, it turned out to be a servo pipe(?) I hope that's right.

Anyway for a service, an MOT and sorting the brakes it cost us £207 so that was fine, phew