does anyone else think that the brakes on the active are abit soft?

there is a fair amount of travel on the brakes, they work fine and will make the abs work but the pedal seems soft

before i bleed the brakes with new fluid can does anyone else notice this?

pandasam said:

before i bleed the brakes with new fluid can does anyone else notice this?

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Its a new car is it not?

If so don't fiddle, return to dealer

i spose but i like to fiddle haha

they work fine and the fluid level is fine infact its above the max slightly

just seem soft

pandasam said:

just seem soft

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All cars are different

Well personally I think my brakes are spot on not a problem at all.

I would be surprised if bleeding made any real change in the brake feel..........

I find that my 1.2 04 (40k) model has just about aceptable brake feel, but would prefer more assistance.
Bare in mind that the servo is mounted on the passenger side, and there is a thick bar that transfers the push load from the pedal...............my guess is that a LHD version would feel better.
I may be able to confirm that theory,when I hire a Panda in Italy this coming June. OR...............maybe I might not!!!........I fancy a 500 hire car!!!!

Ian

I would advise getting them checked as my 59 plate 1.1 nearly stuck me thru' the windscreen for the 1st couple of weeks 'till i got used to them. Even with rear drums they are excellent for such a small car so your's may need a bleed....

How many miles has the car done, what sort of driving style? Our Dynamic mostly putters around in traffic and things do feel a bit soft, but on a longer run when it all warms up nicely, there's a much more postive braking effect. Your brakes may still be bedding in. Try taking it somewhere for a bit of fast running where you can do some hard braking (SAFELY) for an hour. Might well find things get better.....

farnboroflyer said:

I would be surprised if bleeding made any real change in the brake feel..........

I find that my 1.2 04 (40k) model has just about aceptable brake feel, but would prefer more assistance.
Bare in mind that the servo is mounted on the passenger side, and there is a thick bar that transfers the push load from the pedal...............my guess is that a LHD version would feel better.
I may be able to confirm that theory,when I hire a Panda in Italy this coming June. OR...............maybe I might not!!!........I fancy a 500 hire car!!!!

Ian

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I doubt it would make much of a difference as not much force from your foot is lost through the bar.

OP, are your brakes soft or spungy? Its only spongy brakes that need bleeding due to air, and the air allowing compresison, thus the sponging.

Floydfan said:

I would advise getting them checked as my 59 plate 1.1 nearly stuck me thru' the windscreen for the 1st couple of weeks 'till i got used to them. Even with rear drums they are excellent for such a small car so your's may need a bleed....

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That sounds very simliar to my experience. My previous car was a much bigger and heavier machine so it took much more braking to stop. During the first drive in the Panda I put on the anchors with way too much force. The Panda stopped quickly and a little later I joined it.

The Panda has relatively small brakes, which have an upward-curving braking characteristic, if you will. Apply gently and evenly increasing pressure to the pedal and the brakes respond by grabbing in an almost exponentially-increasing fashion.

Bigger brakes tend to have a much more direct response but when they finally do lock up, they do so very suddenly. It's basically just a matter of routine, every time I change cars or go ride a sport bike after driving the Panda, I'm always a bit off for a few minutes due to the different characteristics. Unless they feel spongy or hit the carpet before locking up, your Panda's brakes are fine.