Hi all,

Hoping someone may have some ideas! I have a Sept 2004 Ducato11 2.0 JTD panel van (non ABS) that has developed a brake problem, sufficient to fail a French MOT.

Problem is that according to the data supplied by the testing station, the force required to sufficiently apply the front brakes is far too much. The rears are fine though. Tried the easy fix by bleeding them but has made no difference. Went back for a re-test today (more in hope than anything else) and it failed.

Wondered if it could be the Master Cylinder? Guy at the testing station shrugged and said 'perhaps'. Local garage suspects the same thing but the problem I have is that it needs to be fixed & re-tested by Monday night!!!

I can get a MC by Monday afternoon, but don't want to go for it if anyone has any other suggestions and says 'no, its not that!'. I appreciate that it is hard to say just from an e-mail but I'd be happy to risk going with the majority view.

Thanks in advance,

Just a thought: could it be the servo, as this amplifies foot-power to the braking system?

Can't remember without looking if this is a separate unit to the master cylinder or whether the whole lot needs changing.

Of course as the van seems to be getting sufficient hydraulic pressure to the rear there may be a problem with the front caliphers (sp), seized piston or pads, though they are unlikely to both fail at the same time (was the brake balance ok on the tester?)