Bloody brakes..

Ok so here it is. Bought the car ('99 L series 5 door 50th ) with ****e brakes. Further investigation revealed worn pads and discs, and seizing pins. One pin totally cattle trucked and seized solid, so I replaced the discs (****part), pads (Delphi- normally fine), pins (****part through no choice..), and one caliper holder (genuine! Yay.. except for the bloody price ). All assembled with proper brake grease and discs cleaned off. They had an oily film.

Expected a bit of bedding in, but 300 miles later they're still ****e. There is just no bite at all and coming to a stop is like having no servo. Checked the servo and vacuum and all seemed fine by the usual checks and unplugging the vacuum makes it much worse. Took that pads out and gave them a good roughing up, and got my favourite Cockney Thug to give them a good talking to. Felt better the next day. From speed they seem to have some bite but simply do not bite at the last bit before you eventually stop. I can't figure it. Everything is moving fine at the front and the handbrake works fine too. Brakes bite fairly well in reverse.

I've fitted new 205/16 tyres but surely the mechanical leverage can't be this bad? My other 4x4s with much bigger tyres still worked fine.

Any ideas welcome as I'm as baffled as a Prius exhaust pipe.

Can depend on what you are used to.

Landrover have "softer" brakes so that driving in slippery conditions is smoother with no sudden actions.

If I drive the GF's sporty car, I nearly headbutt the dash everytime I so much as slightly touch the brakes - which I find dangerous on a wet road as it locks up far too easy.

Other thing you'll notice is longer throttle travel.
The Disco actually changes throttle travel electronically when you select low drive - so that it isn't jerking when you bump around off road

Earlier Freelanders have smaller non vented front discs and narrower rear drums than the 2001 on models but brakes are still OK when working fine.

Perhaps the brakes are needing bled or your auto brake shoe adjusters have seized so the rear brakes are not working that efficiently - an easy job to remove the adjuster rod and clean it, making sure the cam is free to rotate on the end.

Bleeding should be fine- they feel very good in that respect. They just lack bite and when you are standing on the brakes they glide to a stop which is kind of worrying. I was under the impression that Freelanders brake, steer and corner like a regular car.