hi i`ve just joined today, could do with some help !

[keith t]

hi all , i`ve just joined the site today to get some advice on my terrano i`ve had it about 5 months and its the first 4x4 i`ve had and i love it . i have though got a problem . every now and then when i press the brakes gently the brake pedal judders up and down and the brakes don`t work, when i lift my foot off and press again they work. as i know sod all about 4x4`s i asked a friend to look he`s a mechanic but not delt with 4x4`s very often, he said there was a bit of play in the front wheel as though it was a bearing issue so he checked the other side and it also had play in it. should 4x4`s have a bit of play on front wheels ? it`s a bit rude of me to join a forum and ask for help straight away but i could realy do with working brakes as i find them very handy at times.
cheers
keith

 

[lacroupade]

hi all , i`ve just joined the site today to get some advice on my terrano i`ve had it about 5 months and its the first 4x4 i`ve had and i love it . i have though got a problem . every now and then when i press the brakes gently the brake pedal judders up and down and the brakes don`t work, when i lift my foot off and press again they work. as i know sod all about 4x4`s i asked a friend to look he`s a mechanic but not delt with 4x4`s very often, he said there was a bit of play in the front wheel as though it was a bearing issue so he checked the other side and it also had play in it. should 4x4`s have a bit of play on front wheels ? it`s a bit rude of me to join a forum and ask for help straight away but i could realy do with working brakes as i find them very handy at times.
cheers
keith

Its what we are here for.

Front wheel bearings can certainly wear and they need tightening....the process is in the manual (which has several links here, just search). I assume this play is in the vertical plane, i.e. you can rock the wheels top to bottom?

A very very small amount of play is permissible but no more. Check and sort as required sooner rather than later, as excessive play will knacker the threads on the locking ring and/or stub axle and eventually require a complete new half-shaft which isn't cheap, even from the breakers.

Brake issues can arise from a number of sources and you'll get plenty of suggestions on this thread, from stuck calipers (common) through to my favourite (since it affected me) which is rear brake shoes disintegrating inside the drum, causing erratic/ineffective braking. Pays to check the obvious things first.

Just for clarity, I take it this isn't ABS engaging? When it does, the brakes should work, but you get a 'gravelly' vibration through the pedal and stopping distamces will be lengthened as bit (the point of ABS is to maintain control and prevent lockup and skidding, not shorten or maintain braking distance)...

 

[keith t]

thanks for the reply

i`ll get the bearings tightened and see how it goes, the problem doesn`t happen all the time it may be fine for a day then the brakes might play up 3 or 4 time the next day. when my mechanic mate drove it the thing drove like a new car not a 11 year old one ( but that was bound to happen wasn`t it lol ) so i don`t think it`s just the abs doing it`s thing. it only happens when i`m lightly braking not when i`m braking harder, i`ll get him to check calipers whist he`s doing the bearings. once again thanks for the reply.
cheers
keith

 

[jims-terrano]

Light braking will set the ABS going too if you hit a bump in the right way at the same time as braking.

If your motor has ABS does the ABS light come on before you start engine? If it went faulty before you bought it some dodgy person could of removed the bulb.

Jim

 

[spudd]

not if some ar*eole fills the light with black silicon.mine turned out to be a missing circlip on the end of the driveshaft.because the shaft was moving the abs ring away from the sensor the brakes hardly worked at all causing some close misses.cost me £300+ for the sake of a 20p circlip

 

[keith t]

getting to the root of problem

after tightening front bearings due to lots of play in both wheels i was still having same brake problem, then my brake warning light came on so i checked fluid level and it was very low. so checked brake cylinders and back left was leakin like a leaky thing. so i guess this is what was causing problems i was having ? i hope, i am getting a cylinder and may as well get the shoes done whilst its in bits. whilst i`m on here i have a daft question that i`m sure you will all know the answer but this is my first 4x4 and i have no manual with it, anyway i have a switch to the left of my steering wheel with the letter S, AUTO, and a snowflake on it. is this suspention settings or lsd or gear settings ?
cheers
keith

 

[supergnome]

Look in the links and workshops on here. Ask briggie for the link to manuals site. This site will save you a fortune.David.

 

[geoffdown]

after tightening front bearings due to lots of play in both wheels i was still having same brake problem, then my brake warning light came on so i checked fluid level and it was very low. so checked brake cylinders and back left was leakin like a leaky thing. so i guess this is what was causing problems i was having ? i hope, i am getting a cylinder and may as well get the shoes done whilst its in bits. whilst i`m on here i have a daft question that i`m sure you will all know the answer but this is my first 4x4 and i have no manual with it, anyway i have a switch to the left of my steering wheel with the letter S, AUTO, and a snowflake on it. is this suspention settings or lsd or gear settings ?
cheers
keith

u dont say but i would think u have an auto and that switch is for the auto box s means sport auto is just normal driving and snowflake is yes u guessed for slippery roads now i might be wrong as i have a manual:thumbs

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

welcome to the club Keith :thumb2