General AHHH my brakes dont work!

[Bushboy]

Ok, they do work... i was just exagerating

i'm not sure exactly what could be the problem but i think my breaks feel what is commonly called "spongey". I dont know exactly what spongey is supposed to feel like on brakes but it might be what i think it is.. the brakes are fine at slow speeds (if not just a little weak) but if you need to break quickly from over 30mph and you put your foot down as hard as possible, the pedal sinks down and then begin breaking again... at this point i usual take my foot off and put it down again... i dont want it to sink to the floor just incase i'm left with no brakes atall, which isnt good. Ive already had to swerve to avoid a stupid woman who pulled out on a red light...

Anyway, after doign a tiny bit of research i have come to thwe conclution that my brakes may need bleeding. If so, how do i do this? I have just had the car MOTed and it didnt bring up any probs with the brakes but i have new pads if this may help. but how do i bleed the brakes... i dont even really know what this means

Help!

My Lovely Uno

 

[gaz.d]

Mine went on my Uno, I had them bleed, but the master cylinder also went causing air to get into the brake system. You want to hope it aint that casue mine was an expensive job

 

[dave]

bleeding breakes means getting air out of system, thing is how did the air get in in the first place, if there is a fluid leek it should have been noticed on the mot, do the breakes get harder if you pump the pedal? that would indicate air. if you do blead them proubly best to get a haynes manual (from libary if money is short)

Please do not Email or PM me asking for support. Post on the forums instead. Your reply may help someone else. Thank you

 

[Bushboy]

well i think there fine like that... they only sink to the floor and stop responding at high speeds (well... 30-40+) if pushed really hard such as in an emergency etc.

My Lovely Uno

 

[Morty Mort]

Hei.

Brake fluid is hygroscopic - it chemically binds itself to water. So if moist has come into the system or any water at all, your brakes might feel spongy. Also if it's air in the system. You have to remove all existing brake fluid and replace it with new. Do not spill any brake fluid on your car exterior while bleeding, as it acts as a very effective paint stripper.

Bleeding screws are attached around the hubs somewhere. Not completely sure about the procedure, but you have to unscrew them, and have a friend press the brake pedal to get old fluid out - and into a suitable container through a hose. You don't want to be a nature environment criminal [xx(], will you? .

Morten.

 

[Enzo]

Bleeding screws are located on the inner side of brake calipers and rear drums...usually 8mm or 10mm bolts!You need an "assistant" to do the job...tell him to push down the brake pedal and keep it pressed with a reasonable power, then you unscrew a bl. bolt to let fluid come out...tell you friend to push the pedal to the floor and stay there until you have screwed again the bolt|)!If he releases the pedal before the bolt's screwed the air will enter the brake pipeB), so be careful;after each bleeding it's right to pump on the pedal a few times and then do the sequence again!The bleedin can be ended when you see the fluid coming out in a continuos stream...if you see it "sprayed" from the bolts it means there's some air inside...so GO ON Bleeding again!

P.S. if you car has a servo don't forget to turn on the engine, otherwise you can't press the pedal enough to bleed!!

 

[John H]

Le istruzioni piacevoli.

( I do hope http://ets.freetranslation.com/ hasn't said anything naughty[)] )