Wonder if you all can help.
I had my car MOT'd last week and had to take 2 days off work (which i can't afford time off) Since i had it back i noticed brakes seem to go and when i press on pedel again the brakes came back. So rather take another day off work to take it back i will do it myself
Know nothing about cars i am guessing its brake fluid is gone. Its a Renualt Espace 1992. To top it up i am assuming its the cap right at back underneath water cap.
Mr_Fin
I don't think you should be messing with brakes if you know nothing about them. It appears from what you say that the pedal needs pumping. This symptom doesn't develop by itself - there's a reason for it and you need to find the reason. Give it to someone else.
Rob Graham
The message from "MR_Fin" contains these words:
That sounds like rather more than just needing topping up. For a start you should have a warning light on the dash that tells you that it's low on fluid (though you shouldn't wait for this to come up before topping it up!). Sounds more like either the self-adjusters have died or one of the rubber hoses has gone bulgy.
If none of that makes much sense to you then you need to get someone who understands it to look at the brakes. You shouldn't be driving the vehicle in the meantime - faults like that can go from what you describe to no brakes at all in an instant.
from your description: The vehicle has not had its proper maintenance which would include brake fluid changes every two years. Old brake fluid absorbs water over time, after a couple of years the water is sufficient to rust steel components (which is one of the reasons the makers tell you to change it.) The water rusts the bottom of the brake master cylinder bore, under normal everyday braking the rubber seals do not go beyond this rusty damaged area, but when the mot is done the pedal is pushed as hard as it can be (this is a correct and necessary part of the test) this action pushes the rubber seals over the rusty bit and tears the seals.
The symptoms you will have are that under light pressure on the pedal the pedal may go all the way to the floor or lower than usual, if you apply the brakes again (usually more quickly) the pedal feels good. This is because the flaps of rubber manage to splay out further under the sudden pressure and make a seal.
The cure is to have a new brake master cylinder fitted by a competent person and the brakes re-tested. Thereafter have the fluid changed as specified by the manufacturer.
This will be expensive.
Mrcheerful
Too be fair it sounds like you've got air within the master cylinde this is easily solved,all you have to do is bleed the system then to it up again if necessary.it will take two of u to do it u need on person in the vehicle to pump the pedal and yourself to open the blee nipple.then just keep repeating this process until the pedal is ther without pumping it to get it.
you need to start at the passenger rear then to drivers rear the passenger front then drivers front make sure you do it in that orde else it wont work. when topping up the brake fluid be sure to use DOT4 brake fluid.
get whoever is in the car to pump the pedal 8-10 times then say hold i down and undo the bleed nipple allow fluid to exit the system for second then tighten and repeat this 4-5 times per caliper this shoul solve the problem ]
good luck
-- rsturbo_19
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