lacroupade
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2009
- Messages
- 9,208
Haven't had a chance to research the possible issues yet but after talking with Colin I think I've got a brake servo problem, but its causing some very serious issues.
On my 160-mile drive home last night I experienced a range of symptoms, one of them potentially lethal in the wrong circumstances.
Started about a week ago when I fitted 31" tyres instead of the standard 235x70s - but I don't think theres a connection at this point - no fouling etc..
I started to feel odd responses in the braking - when braking gently, there was 'clonk' in the system (felt rather than heard) and the braking force increased....only a bit at first but it got gradually worse until a few days ago I braked gently at the bottom of my road and the front offside locked up completely, leaving a 25-foot long skid mark.....ABS didn't engage.
Took it for MoT a day or two later and it failed on one thing only, but one expensive thing....both CV gaiters split, which meant dismantling both sides to access and replace them, plus one joint was dirty and had to be cleaned up (but no wear to it when inspected)....also had a seized caliper piston removed and cleaned up and brake pads replaced. Lots of bits seized/rusted so it took the thick end of two days between their other jobs.
They road tested it extensively twice but found no problem with braking. Passed MoT and I set out last night, drove 50 miles with no problems then the 'clonking' started again....if I braked very gently it was OK, but much more than that and I got the 'clonk' sensation followed by increased braking force. Gradually worsened until, if I braked at a roundabout, it was keeping the brakes on as I drove off...I also noted that the handbrake would only come up halfway...if I stopped and reversed it seemed to free things up and the handbrake came up full distance.
I even found it exerting brake force while driving along, with NO input from me.
After about 100 miles the clonking vanished but the brake pedal was going down much further than before, as when there is air in the system....but nearer to my destination the clonking started to return a bit.
Problem is, as I'm waaaay out in the sticks, I have to take it to a local garage (especially as I'm off to France on Monday and haven't got time to do it myself, so wifey is in the hot seat!), so I'd like to have a fair idea of diagnosis if possible.
My questions (to people familiar with braking systems) are:
1. Does this sound servo-related?
2. The ABS hasn't kicked in at all during these events, and I'm hoping it isn't a problem with the ABS controller as thats bloody expensive, but views?
3. I would get the brake fluid changed as well - I suspect its bloody old like a lot of these trucks, but is there anything else that I should be worrying about - I don't want to waste money changing, for example, the master cylinder, but if its necessary.....??
4. Since I can't be confident that the local garage won't go and buy expensive Nissan bits, any ideas where I can source a decent quality (new) servo at reasonable cost?
Technical comments much appreciated. And thanks in anticipation!
kind regards
Paul.
PS - for folks like Clivvy, this is my third Terrano/Maverick in about 14 years - usually a second car but I've done 250-300k miles and this is the first time I've got SERIOUSLY pi55ed off with the thing, to the extent that I'm thinking about chopping it in for a Mazda B50 double cab, but lets see how this problem goes! :thumb2:thumb2
On my 160-mile drive home last night I experienced a range of symptoms, one of them potentially lethal in the wrong circumstances.
Started about a week ago when I fitted 31" tyres instead of the standard 235x70s - but I don't think theres a connection at this point - no fouling etc..
I started to feel odd responses in the braking - when braking gently, there was 'clonk' in the system (felt rather than heard) and the braking force increased....only a bit at first but it got gradually worse until a few days ago I braked gently at the bottom of my road and the front offside locked up completely, leaving a 25-foot long skid mark.....ABS didn't engage.
Took it for MoT a day or two later and it failed on one thing only, but one expensive thing....both CV gaiters split, which meant dismantling both sides to access and replace them, plus one joint was dirty and had to be cleaned up (but no wear to it when inspected)....also had a seized caliper piston removed and cleaned up and brake pads replaced. Lots of bits seized/rusted so it took the thick end of two days between their other jobs.
They road tested it extensively twice but found no problem with braking. Passed MoT and I set out last night, drove 50 miles with no problems then the 'clonking' started again....if I braked very gently it was OK, but much more than that and I got the 'clonk' sensation followed by increased braking force. Gradually worsened until, if I braked at a roundabout, it was keeping the brakes on as I drove off...I also noted that the handbrake would only come up halfway...if I stopped and reversed it seemed to free things up and the handbrake came up full distance.
I even found it exerting brake force while driving along, with NO input from me.
After about 100 miles the clonking vanished but the brake pedal was going down much further than before, as when there is air in the system....but nearer to my destination the clonking started to return a bit.
Problem is, as I'm waaaay out in the sticks, I have to take it to a local garage (especially as I'm off to France on Monday and haven't got time to do it myself, so wifey is in the hot seat!), so I'd like to have a fair idea of diagnosis if possible.
My questions (to people familiar with braking systems) are:
1. Does this sound servo-related?
2. The ABS hasn't kicked in at all during these events, and I'm hoping it isn't a problem with the ABS controller as thats bloody expensive, but views?
3. I would get the brake fluid changed as well - I suspect its bloody old like a lot of these trucks, but is there anything else that I should be worrying about - I don't want to waste money changing, for example, the master cylinder, but if its necessary.....??
4. Since I can't be confident that the local garage won't go and buy expensive Nissan bits, any ideas where I can source a decent quality (new) servo at reasonable cost?
Technical comments much appreciated. And thanks in anticipation!
kind regards
Paul.
PS - for folks like Clivvy, this is my third Terrano/Maverick in about 14 years - usually a second car but I've done 250-300k miles and this is the first time I've got SERIOUSLY pi55ed off with the thing, to the extent that I'm thinking about chopping it in for a Mazda B50 double cab, but lets see how this problem goes! :thumb2:thumb2
