Brake failure

[R1cho]

Well today i managed to run into the back of a transit van, dunno how it happened but when i braked they felt like i was on ice, didn't slow me down at all til i hit the van, no reall damage to my T2 a bit of a dent in the bonnet from the ladders on the back of the van and my bumper seems to have dropped a bit, the driver of the van didn't even stop dispite the fact hist back doors were caved in and the ladder was bent into an S shape (me thinks he had no insurance) ny main concern is what could have caaused the brakes to do this? after it happened they worked fine sll the way home, i even did some sharp braking on purpose on empty roads to see if it would happen again but it never, from memory this has happened once before but i put it down to the pads needing replacing, anyone else have this happen? if so what was the cause? all help greatly appreciated cant afford to have the truck off the road so really need to get this sorted a.s.a.p god only knows what would have happened if it was a kid crossing the road in front of me

 

[makeitfit]

are you sure there wasn't some diesel on wet road, or summat?

 

[R1cho]

deffo not got out and checked all round it seemed the harder i pressed brake the less it wanted to grip :nenau

 

[iain.s]

did you get out at the scene ? just wondering if it could be diesel on the road hellish slippy

 

[R1cho]

did you get out at the scene ? just wondering if it could be diesel on the road hellish slippy

yea got out at scene, had all my docs in hand ready but the van driver just buggered off

 

[briggie]

yea got out at scene, had all my docs in hand ready but the van driver just buggered off

checked fluid level ?.......... hang on ..... yours has abs doesnt it ?

 

[iain.s]

any difference in pedal height ?

 

[R1cho]

checked fluid level ?

fluid level is fine

any difference in pedal height ?

pedal is same as always has been

 

[briggie]

abs ?

 

[R1cho]

yes m8 mine does have ABS

 

[iain.s]

how far back up the road did you check for diesel etc , did you check actual tyres if anything on them

 

[briggie]

yes m8 mine does have ABS

from page 37 onwards ... might be the prob , i dunno

http://bebrs.pie-dabas.net/Webs/Terrano/R20/br.pdf

 

[solarman216]

first thing I would do is change the brake fluid it has an affinity to water, water boils at a much lower temp than BF, if you have a binding brake or you had been braking hard before the incident then you could well have had steam in the brake lines, steam is compressible = no brakes, Rick

 

[clivvy]

scary stuff. I dont have ABS on mine, and never had this happen. The nearest thing I have had happen like this, is hitting a bit of oil/diesel on the road when breaking.

 

[R1cho]

thanks for the link briggie but that may aswell be in chinese to me lol i think i'll start by changing the brake fluid and take it from there, all being well that will sort it.

 

[badger]

check brake shoes, if worn can jump, allows cylider to move more than normal, reduces or looses all front brake power.
are shoes adjusted corectly?

steve

 

[iain.s]

Any luck finding brake probs ?

 

[spudd]

ive had this a few of times and 2 near misses as car wouldnt stop.i didnt think it was an abs issue as no abs light on.that is until last weekends silicon covered light discovery.

 

[R1cho]

Any luck finding brake probs ?

Not had chance to check anything today as been really busy processing photos, so am going to try and get the brakes bled tomorrow, however i did notice today when at on the drive when i press the brake peddle there is like an air sound, bit like the sound a footpump makes when you press it down

ive had this a few of times and 2 near misses as car wouldnt stop.i didnt think it was an abs issue as no abs light on.that is until last weekends silicon covered light discovery.

Don't think it is my ABS as my lights do work so far working on the theory of water in the brake fluid when this happened i was in rush hour traffic so had been using the brakes alot which would have heated up water enough to cause problems, have checked rear brake shoes and they are fine.

 

[paulp]

brakes

i had similar thing with my truck - the pads were low

NOT VERY LOW but needed changing

paulp