Astra Brakes

The pedal travel has got progressively longer recently. I have bled brakes
using an easy bleed kit. The feel was much improved until I started the
engine. With the engine running the pedal can be pressed to the floor. when
the engine is not running all appears OK.

Any Thoughts much appreciated.

 

I have that in my Astra and Vauxhall replaced all the discs pads etc. Still
the brake pedal goes to the floor. You probably know this but the brake
servo is only active when the engine or ignition is on which is why its easy
to push the pedal to the floor.

The brakes actuallly scare the hell out of me on the astra as it feels like
its not always going to stop the car when breaking from 60

Matt

 

Which Astra model is this? I have the current one, an SRi, which has
massive discs (~12"), and the brakes are very strong. In fact, having
moved up from a previous model Corsa to this thing I had to relearn how
to use the brake pedal or, only for the seat belt, I would have been
head banging the windscreen when I stood hard on the brakes! I can do
100-0 in about 100 yards It does take a bit of a push on the pedal
but I like that as it feels more progressive (unlike most French cars
which just bite viciously when you touch the pedal).

OTOH, my brother owns a previous model Astra (1.7TD estate) and the
brakes on that thing, even with new discs/pads, scares the hell out of
me after driving mine! I'm guessing yours is the previous model?

Andrew

 

Its a mk4 Astra Club '99 which doesnt have ABS.

Matt

 

Just had a look at the brochure which lists the specification of the
braking systems in these two models (SRi and Club). There is a big
difference in the spec!!

The MK4 SRi has 280mm vented discs on the front and 264mm solid discs on
the rear, all with ABS and EBD (EBD is a wonderful invention - the car
brakes in a perfectly straight line no matter what the conditions, or
how hard you brake).

The MK4 Club has 256mm vented discs on the front and 230mm drum brakes
on the rear. I'm guessing this is similar to the MK3 Astra which scares
the hell out me when braking.

Due to the extra diameter of the front discs on the SRi, those 280mm
discs alone will produce about 20% (actually 19.6%) more braking power
than the 256mm ones. The difference between discs and drums on the back
will be enormous. I simply cannot understand why any car manufacturer
in this day and age still puts drum brakes anywhere on a car!! So, the
overall difference in braking ability will be quite large.

Then take into account the slightly wider tyres on the SRi (205 v
185/195 depending on exact Club model) probably using grippier rubber
which will give more grip and which will allow greater use of those
better brakes.

I guess this is a good example of why rally car owners spend thousands
on getting bigger brakes and wider/grippier tyres on their cars!! My
brother used to road rally an Escort and the stopping power of that
thing was incredible. Way, way ahead of my SRi. The non-road legal
(for normal day to day use) competition tyres probably contributed to
that quite a bit though. They were seriously sticky That's another
thing.... why are those tyres not legal for day to day use when they are
clearly superior to anything that is legal!!!

Andrew

 

You have something wrong somewhere then.

Take it a Vauxhall dealer and ask them for a free brake check. Let them
recommend a course of action and a price. You can then shop around and use
someone else if they are not competitive.

Bear in mind that badly adjusted brakes, cheap discs and pads and old brake
fluid will all add up to poor braking.

--

Alan


New & used Vauxhall cars & vans, servicing, repairs & parts
www.steeles.co.uk

Vauxhall CD players & handbooks
http://www.stores.ebay.co.uk/vauxhallradiosales

 

Hi,

They did mine about 2 weeks ago didnt make no differance to the braking
apart from the fact the vibration had gone when I braked. The car is under
network q for a year.

Another strange one is my tyres on the back had bits of tread worn on the
inside edge which Vauxhall refered to as a sawtooth edge. They were the
original tyres Continental Eco environmental I think. I had all the
alignment etc checked before I noticed the tyres. Anyways I had to buy some
more and they stuck Avon ones on there saying the Continental tyres are of a
soft compound and all the Vauxhalls they have come in do it. I tried to get
the new tyres paid for under vauxhall warranty saying the brakes were
binding at the back but I couldnt prove it.

Matt

 

I'd suggest you take it back then, in that case.

For the record, I have a 2002 Astra Club Estate - discs front, drum rear, no
ABS and the brakes really are effective and progressive, as long as I have
the seat in the right place and NOT stamp on the pedal.

They are better I think than the cavalier I previously had, which had ABS
and slightly less progressive braking. Effectivenes on that car would
deteriorate unless I had the fluid changed every 2 years or so.

 

Sounds like there maybe a leak - also try adjusting the rear brake. I once
had a ford and the front wheel bearing was very worn, I had replaced the
master cylinder (a mistake I made at the time)

Bill

 

Definitely a leak - don't drive car until fixed. Suspect rear slave
cylinders first if your car is fitted with them. I had to replace both my
rear disk calipers do to a blown seal at 95k. Seal burst when retracting
caliper into bore when changing pads - should have released bleed nipple but
just pushed fluid back into reservoir - bad mistake!
If you have copious white smoke in exhaust suspect brake master cylinder.
--
Regards Chris

Details offered in this e-mail are those applying to my particular problem
and may not apply to your circumstances. You should check with your main
dealer.

 

first cure the leak if there is one then have the engine running while you
bleed the brakes -- best done with two people rather than a bleed
kit -------- start furthest from master & work to nearest--- although i `m
not sure if that bit still applies now with dual circuits