Disco 2 Brake fade

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MJI

Well-Known Member
Posts
14,750
Location
Worcester
Had it before but now new fluild, rear calipers, rear discs and new pads all round.

Managed to get a bit on a bypass, not high speeds but hard braling from 70 for roundabouts.

Not had fade on a car since my last front solid/rear drum vehicle.

Fade with vented discs!

Any ideas what to check next?
 
I think fade has to do with the kind of material the pad is made of. Apparently there's some different coloured pads made of stuff that dissipate heat better with the resultant effect of less fade. To be fair, the D2 is a fairly heavy vehicle with relatively small diameter disks for the kind of forces that need arresting to bring it to a stop. Look into those "special" pads if you must, but driven reasonably, I don't think it's something that's going to happen enough times to warrant the investment.
 
Unless there's a problem somewhere else, you need to allow time for the new components to bed-in. Depending on the materials used and the brakes application, this can sometimes take more than 300km. You might also want to check the flexible hoses. With use and age, the walls can become softer and do not provide sufficient resistance to the increased fluid pressure when you apply the brakes.
 
What make are the new pads you've fitted. If bedded in, no reputable brand of pad should be fading that easily.
If they are a good brand, it's worth checking whether both of the front brakes are working effectively with all 4 pads in full contact with the discs.
 
I think the clue may be in the "new pads all round". You are supposed to drive reasonably until they are all bedded in which takes about 100 miles. If you fitted them and very quickly did what you did then that may be why. Plus ditto all other posters who have said "if bedded in" and "it can take 300k to bed in". Mind you the flexys could also be a prob, but then you ought to have noticed that before you did all the other work.
 
Done about 400 to 500 miles since fitting, front discs are about 4 years old.

Old front pads had worn OK.

All pads EBC OEM replacement.

Cleaned rears before fitting.
 
I'm always amazed how drivers brake really early and leave their brakes on for ages. I know autos need a bit more braking but I prefer to read the road ahead and not brake until the last minute, then I brake harder but for much less time. I rarely brake for corners and roundabouts etc and my pads last years. The pads on my 2002 Suzuki gsxr 1000 are the originals.

Col
 
I'm always amazed how drivers brake really early and leave their brakes on for ages. I know autos need a bit more braking but I prefer to read the road ahead and not brake until the last minute, then I brake harder but for much less time. I rarely brake for corners and roundabouts etc and my pads last years. The pads on my 2002 Suzuki gsxr 1000 are the originals.

Col

I was taking advantage of bypasses to get past slower traffic.

I wanted to get home after a long drive to Bournemouth and back
 
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