Spongy brakes

**DNS** · 17th January 2009, 18:11

My car hadn't been used for a few days and when I washed it earlier I noticed that there was a quite a lot of crap on discs. Just took it out on the industrial estate to give it some harsh braking and clean the muck off. I also like to give the ABS a chance to kick in every now and again so the pump doesn't seize up.

I noticed that when I hold the pedal down the the car stops, the pedal then continues to sink slowly down to the floor. Is this normal? The ABS works fine.

I had problems with the ABS pump on my vec B (notorious problem) so maybe I'm just paranoid that they're happening again.

Does everyone elses brake pedal sink to the floor after it's been held on for a little while?

**paulhb** · 17th January 2009, 18:13

Not mine m8 solid as a rock sounds like air in the pipes or moisture when was the fluid changed last.

**vectragsi3.2** · 17th January 2009, 18:13

i had that when my front caliper was seized onto the disc if it was used and got warm the brakesa would get really spongy

**DNS** · 17th January 2009, 18:17

Thanks for the quick replies.

I've not changed the fluid in the past 2 years that I've had the car. Not done any work on the brakes though either... Not sure the fluid has ever been changed.

How often do people normally change the stuff?

**paulhb** · 17th January 2009, 18:17

So it was boiling the fluid maybe my fluid is changed every 2 years but I am not sure of the recommended intervals I thought it was 2 years.

**DNS** · 17th January 2009, 19:52

Just checked the Haynes and a change is definitely due, I'll do it next weekend.

Might as well do the pads at the same time as they're quite worn now. Does anyone have a pad recomendation for me? Don't want to spend too much, but might as well go for slightly better than the standard things you get in Halfrauds.

**big rich** · 17th January 2009, 19:57

Originally Posted by DNS

I noticed that when I hold the pedal down the the car stops, the pedal then continues to sink slowly down to the floor. Is this normal? The ABS works fine.

Does everyone elses brake pedal sink to the floor after it's been held on for a little while?

the same as mine m8...the discs and pads are fine and not loosing any fluid and it does brake well when you stamp on the pedal so i know its safe etc etc, so im not that fussed
im getting the 314mm brakes soon as so it should be fine then....i hope

**gtr1000** · 17th January 2009, 20:07

Originally Posted by DNS

I noticed that when I hold the pedal down the the car stops, the pedal then continues to sink slowly down to the floor. Is this normal? The ABS works fine.

Does everyone elses brake pedal sink to the floor after it's been held on for a little while?

Yep, my GSi does it and that's with brand new 314's and a complete fulid change. No air in system and brakes are really good. Read before on here (GSi3.2 I think) that this ain't a problem. If there was a more severe problem, you'd be able to push the brake pedal to the floor with the engine switched off.

GARY3306 is well up on brakes so perhaps he could explain a bit better?

**Duncan** · 17th January 2009, 20:42

Originally Posted by DNS

I noticed that when I hold the pedal down the the car stops, the pedal then continues to sink slowly down to the floor. Is this normal? The ABS works fine.

Yep, perfectly normal if the engine is running. If it does it with the engine off then it's not good.