brake issues vauxhall vectra

geekgirl

in2deep wrote: »

(in a Lloyd grossman voice)


Two things are a little odd the 'crackling' and the hard spot when you press the brake. The crackling has stopped now, which is good news.

To the OP did this just start all of a sudden especialy the hard/soft pedal.??
How did you first notice this problem. I first noticed the brakes on that passenger side were making a grinding noise so presumed the brake pads needed changing. Let the rollercoaster begin! Then before I got them changed within a matter of days it was doing the 'hard spot' thing.

Thunderbird i wasnt getting shirty,;)

I was in the trade many years and it annoys the hell out of me when garages always suspect the most expensive things first.(and change them)
As a rule in this situation i always use to change the cheapest things first and work up.Hence my dismay that 3 garages still dont seem to have looked into the flexi pipe issue.

Thanks very much.

Thunderbird_2

geekgirl wrote: »

Then before I got them changed within a matter of days it was doing the 'hard spot' thing.
.

Did the "hard spot" start after they have replaced the ABS unit?

in2deep wrote: »

(in a Lloyd grossman voice)

Lets look at the evidence.

New brake pads fitted,
pistons greased,
New ABS fitted,
plus all fluids,
new brake pads,
New caliper fitted,
new brake pads.

Two things are a little odd the 'crackling' and the hard spot when you press the brake.

The new ABS was the main unit, not the wheel sensor. Waiting for the resistance test for the wheel sensors to rule them out.

The hard spot in the brake pedal and the feeling described by the OP ( drilling through metal sheet) is strongly, if not definitely, an ABS issue, which will be alomst always an ABS wheel sensor. However, the missing bit is why the ABS light didn't come on in the dashboard?!!! May be as I mentioned earlier, weak enought to cause problems, but not bad enough to cause the light switch on in the dash?!

I like your described approach, in2deep, by saying you would go and try fix the suspected cheapest component first before moving to the more expensive ones. It is like Medicine, when you should start with the least invasive investigations then move to the more invasive ones! No worries mate :beer:

We will be waiting for the sensors test results, geekgirl.

P.S. After driving the car now, can you touch the two front wheels after you finish your journey and compare the heat of both wheels? If they are not aloys, you can feel the wheel studs to see if the affected side overheated, just in case the brakes on that side still binding, but you don't know as they are new and not grinding, just binding, if you see what I mean!

Keep us updated!

in2deep_2

Thunderbird wrote: »

However, the missing bit is why the ABS light didn't come on in the dashboard?!!!

I once heard about a garage who couldn't solve an ABS light problem so they simply wired it into the ignition/battery light as far as the customer knew it worked as it should.!!!!!!!!


Thunderbird do you think this could be an OSR brake (caliper sliders) applying pressure back upto the NSF..????

Thunderbird_2

in2deep wrote: »

I once heard about a garage who couldn't solve an ABS light problem so they simply wired it into the ignition/battery light as far as the customer knew it worked as it should.!!!!!!!!

This is new to me! :eek: I haven't heard of this one before!!:eek: Cheaky sods! Unlikely, but possible.

in2deep wrote: »

Thunderbird do you think this could be an OSR brake (caliper sliders) applying pressure back upto the NSF..????

I don't know, in2deep, but it is worth checking both of the rear wheels out and cleaning the brake components and treat them with a thin smear of copper grease and bleed all the wheels.

We have two issues here, the wearing out pads and the playing up ABS.
WE will see if the wheel is still binding (from heat comparison)and whether one of the front wheel sensors is faulty ( by testing their resistance).

goldspanners

my bets are on the brake flexi pipe being broken down inside,this would give both the op's faults.
i had similar fault on my dads escort,it was more apparent as it didnt have abs.although i did change the calipers before the flexi pipe (lesson learnt there)
its not unlikely but would be a coincedence if you had 2 seperate faults causing both the issues.

geekgirl

Thunderbird wrote: »

Did the "hard spot" start after they have replaced the ABS unit? No it was doing it already before the first set of brake pads were fitted. I would say it has slowly got slightly worse in that it happens more frequently now. It isn't doing it every time I brake but more frequently now

I have just realised something that might be significant. It doesn't do the noise or hard spot when I start the car after it has been standing overnight for instance. It will take about quarter of a mile before it starts then it carries on for the rest of that journey. Hadn't kind of noticed this before but thought it might be relevant.

I am going in search of a multimeter today. Hopefully OH will be home before dark and he will be able to have a look.

Will report back!

geekgirl

OK I have felt the wheel nuts after driving for 4 miles (is that far enough?) and neither side felt hot.

I have bought a multimeter from Aldi for £6 so will have to wait for OH to do the test. Not sure if he is working all day tomorrow so may be home before it gets dark so he can do it.

Fingers crossed!

in2deep_2

I cant wait...this is like a cliffhanger on a Friday edition of a soap.:D

goldspanners

in2deep wrote: »

I cant wait...this is like a cliffhanger on a Friday edition of a soap.:D

the tension and drama,dont keep us waiting until monday!

Thunderbird_2

and me! I can't wait either