Ok am at my wits end with this damn stilo of mines. My front pads won't stop the car very well, u can hear them hit the disk and bounce off, they r brand new EBC Green stuff pads and they scuff off the disk and pedal tries to come bak out like the abs is kicking in under light braking. Or then u've got the other problem when i try and brake normally the brakes rarely work. This started happening when my old pads became worn right down. Weren't far off the metal when they were changed. Anyone any ideas?

Fiat won't look at it without me paying for the diagnostic unless the parts covered under warranty.

Cars done 18k miles and is an 04 plate. 6 months and 11k miles later it's becoming a pain in my rear end! Between this and everything else thats went wrong with it!

I'd take it to an independent brake specialist. Many don't even charge for an examination. If it's more than they can handle then take it back to the dealer.

If the car is under warranty the green stuff pads may invalidate the warranty in Fiat's eyes as none standard parts are fitted I had an issue with my brakes having that [what no brakes feeling ] the other day but I found that it was a small split in the hose coming from the servo I am now looking for a braided replacement. The comment you made Juego about the pads feel like they are bouncing of could well be ABS issues and sadly to say yes we are firmly gripped by the nuts with examiner and fiat but it seems your only course of action to resolve your problem unless you know of an independent with diagnostic equipment.

New brake pads are never much cop until they bed in but that doesn't take long usually for Stilo drivers!

"Bouncing off" sounds like warped discs- a common problem and means the pads are being pushed back from the disc on every wheel rotation. If you've worn the last lot down to the metal then it's very likely.
As said, take it to a technician to check out if you're not sure

Deckchair5 said:

New brake pads are never much cop until they bed in but that doesn't take long usually for Stilo drivers!

"Bouncing off" sounds like warped discs- a common problem and means the pads are being pushed back from the disc on every wheel rotation. If you've worn the last lot down to the metal then it's very likely.
As said, take it to a technician to check out if you're not sure

Click to expand...

If the discs are warped though Juego should feel the flutter on the brake pedal to some extent though shouldn't he Decks he hasn't said this so does this happen Juego do you get the feeling of the brake pedal going up and down under your foot ? and 11k miles and discs are warped that's disgraceful isn't it maybe another case of Fiat using inferior materials like the batch of duff steel they used from the Russians years ago [hence rusty Fiats]

"and pedal tries to come back out like the abs is kicking in under light braking"
That's what I'm going on. That's exactly what warped discs do

They just aren't making discs like they used to, even 1.3 Metros had vented discs

The disks aren't warped as my mate who's a mechanic checked the disks, but with no access to a ramp we cldn't check right. Gonna go to the garage round the corner who fitted the pads and see wat they say.

Last pads weren't right down to the metal they weren't far off it tho

kwik fit have a brake specialist on site at most depots , could ask them to check , but if ya do ya might need discs , pads , calipers , servo , 4 shox , 4 tyres , complete exhaust , ya get the picture , but ya never know

Hi Juego
"The disks aren't warped as my mate who's a mechanic checked the disks"
A mechanic won't normally go to the bother of check the disc for run out (warping) unless there's a reported problem of juddering, pedal pumping, steering wheel vibration when braking etc.

They usually will just check for wear, scoring, rust etc

Now at Kwikfit you can guarantee you'll get someone who nows what they're doing

i.e. trying to transfer funds from your wallet to theirs

its stilo the best said:

kwik fit have a brake specialist on site at most depots , could ask them to check , but if ya do ya might need discs , pads , calipers , servo , 4 shox , 4 tyres , complete exhaust , ya get the picture , but ya never know

Click to expand...

PMSL

lol yep i know loads of kwik fit stories. My mate checked them right over including for warping

The pads feel like they r just scuffing the disk, definetly must be an abs fault surely?

When you feel as though the brakes aren't stopping the car keep your foot pressed on the pedal. Does the pedal eventually drop down some more?

I've got a similar problem, been like that for 2 1/2 years and dealer can't (won't) find it. I know it's the ABS but can't prove it. If I have the radio on MW and not tuned into a station I can hear the ABS (or something) kick in by the interference.

Just for information,modern car braking systems do behave differently depending on systems fitted,EBD will reduce braking pressure at rear,MSR will reduce engine braking,HBA & EVA increases braking automatically under certain conditions etc...all act differently.

Juego,
Sorry if i missed this, but check with the garage, who fitted the pads, as k them to talk you through what they did to change the pads.
Importantly, did they undo any bleed screws on the calipers, did they unscrew the Fluid reservoir cap, or did they simply leave it on??

What were the brakes like PRIOR to you having the pads changed?

Any grinding noises?

Get back to me and i will try and offer some help / advice

(Just a quick note your ABS system checks itself and should show an ABS light if there are any problems with the ABS system. Try starting your car, waiting for system check and watch for any lights / warning etc. If you get none, then whilst stationery, press the brake pedal in as hard as you can, if the pedal pushes back at you / feels a bit like pushing in a pogo stick, then you have air in the system, try lifting the bonnet and lowering all the windows, of ideally get a friend to stick his head under the bonnet whilst continually pressing the brake pedal in and out, if you hear "slurping" ((Sorry couldnt think of a better word )), then you have a leak or vulnerability in teh brake system, if this is the case get it down to your brake specialist ASAP ((Any doubt use your AA/RAC/Greenflag low loader to take it!! Trees hurt cars!!)

If none of the above applies, find a quiet road, or a closed supermarket car park, and perform a "moving brake test", get upto 40mph, in 4th gear, then brake hard DONT SLAM ON!!) until you reach 20mph, then drop to 2nd gear and pull off. See if your ABS kicks in it shouldn;t unless you are on ice or another slippy surface. Do this several times. You can if safe to do so, hold the steering wheel very lightly, to see if the car pulls to one side.

The big one for me is Juego, if the brakes felt fine before you had the pads replaced, they should have been fine afterwards,(bedding in time considered!).
IMO though mate, you got air, which is good for us, but bad for brakes lol