I am new to this forum so be gental please

I have had many Fiats in my driving years, starting with the Miafiori Twin Cam, then the 132, nice. The next was a 1.4 TipoDGT, then a 1.8 Tipo, very fast. Now this Marea (stupid name) 2lt 20V. A nice car but the brakes are rubbish. At low speed they are OKish but a high speed they do not work at all. Near to ware I live is a long down hill straight and If I'm over the 60 limit the car takes for ever to slow down. I like the car but will it kill me!!!!!!!

I bought the car off EBAY for £450, its a 1998 ELX R reg model, no servise history and 74k on the clock. After reading in this forum about Fiat 20v cam belts I had my local garage change it with all the other belts and tensioners pluss rear exhaust and MOT for £640. I was told by the garage that the engine was not the origanal engine, but a 'mark 2' one, what is a mark 2 engine???

I need to know how to improve the braking, and is there any differance between a 'mark 1 and 2 engines'

How much brake pedal travel are you getting?

Is the ABS light coming on when you're trying to stop at speed?

How good are the brakes at low speed?

Have you checked the condition of the vacuum pipe to your servo for cracks?

At a first guess I would suggest you have no servo assistance. This probably wouldn't show up on an MoT test as they're looking for imbalance. How long ago was the MoT and do you have the results of the brake test to refer to?

We have a 130JTD HLX and the brakes on that are very impressive although being diesel it does have a vacuum pump to assist it.

With reference to the engine the mark 2 is probably the 155BHP version - your car, being a 1998 model, should be 147BHP I think.

THE mot was done at the same time as the cam belt was changed i.e. 3 weeks ago. The pedel is firm with no going to the floor. Today at speed I aplied the brakes and nothing, it takes a long time before I get any reduction in speed. As for the engine, when the revs get to say 4k there is a sudden boost of power all the way to 6k. My wife says its like standing on a cats tail and off it goes, sounds great. Just like my old 131, ah memories. And petrol consumption, wow it drinks it faster than dowing a pint of best bitter!!!!

Is there a better brake pad that can be used. Or do I drive under 40mph all the time.

Brian

You can try 'Green' or 'Black Diamond' pads. I fitted some Black Diamond drilled and grooved discs to mine.

It may also help to bleed the brakes and replace the fluid with new dot4 fluid.

Have the brakes always been like this since getting the car as something does not seem right for it to pass the MoT if they are really this bad.

After stopping the car at the bottom of the long hill near you, can you feel any heat from any of the 4 disks (be carefull not to burn your fingers)

Check the servo using the following procedure:-

With engine turned off, pump the brake pedal until it goes solid. Keep your foot pushing hard on the pedal and then start the engine. The brake pedal should drop a little before going hard again.

Yes the disks are very hot, and I did the pedal test and yes the pedal dropped about 1/2". I was thinking (my head hurts when I think to much) The Marea had stop in the garage for nearly a year before I bought it. I had done only 456 miles since the last MOT and the new test that I did and I did 100 of them driving back from Dumfries with the car. Accoring to the lady who had the car before me it had a full sevice before she part ex it for a automatic. The car is so powerfull that I need to get the brakes sorted out soon.

Brian

The next test is to drive for a few miles without using the brakes at all (empty a or b class road) and to coast to a stop. Feel the disks for heat then. They should be stone cold, if they are hot you have your brakes partially working all of the time and when disks get too hot, they give brake fade. Binding brakes may also be causing the excessive fuel consumption too! I'm guessing that your brake calipers are not actually seized on as they shouldn't get through an MoT like this.

Let us know the results of this test and if your disks are hot we can then go through the various causes.