Brake issue or what?

I have a 110 2014 Defender. Last year roughly this time it started to lose power whilst driving. Took it to Landrover who said they couldn't find anything wrong...three weeks later complete brake failure with all brakes literally glowing red hot. Pedal to the floor. Landrover bled brake fluid and changed the master cylinder head and replaced the brakes and discs due to heat distortion.
Today less than 12 months later exactly the same thing has happened. No power in any gear, brakes literally red hot and smoking burning. Has anyone else had an issue like this and is it really likely to be the Master Cylinder head? Was it ever the Master Cylinder head?

How much mileage on discs and pads? Do you do any maintenance on them, check the pads/brakes so they don't bind or that the caliper pistons are corroded and stay out, have you changed fluids, bled them properly,? So many things could happen at the disk itself.

Did the garage say exactly why they replaced what they replaced? I suggest they replaced stuff in the hope it'd fix it.

NSSlim said:

I have a 110 2014 Defender. Last year roughly this time it started to lose power whilst driving. Took it to Landrover who said they couldn't find anything wrong...three weeks later complete brake failure with all brakes literally glowing red hot. Pedal to the floor. Landrover bled brake fluid and changed the master cylinder head and replaced the brakes and discs due to heat distortion.
Today less than 12 months later exactly the same thing has happened. No power in any gear, brakes literally red hot and smoking burning. Has anyone else had an issue like this and is it really likely to be the Master Cylinder head? Was it ever the Master Cylinder head?

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The Landrover has done just shy of 4,000 miles on the new discs & brake pads since they were replaced 30/06/16.

Here is their report from June 2016...I think they just replaced parts for parts sake?

Was never any good at standing on mi head !

Yeah.

Though now I'm thinking at least one known issue with Landrover calipers is that when the pistons start to corrode they get 'sticky' and stay on, or not work, which would give your symptoms. I can understand them changing what they did, but can't understand why they didn't change calipers too, or pistons or mention checking them!

I'd suggest removing the calipers, then pads and checking with the help of someone, the brake pistons for corrosion at the seals and piston ends. These can also give inconsistent hard and soft pedals, but then again worn wheel bearings also can make the brakes feel 'odd' ... so I'd also, whilst the wheels are off, check the wheel bearings .. not just by 'feel' but take the hubs off and see what the bearings look like, maybe even replace them and their grease, 'cos there's a chance that a hot disc could 'burn off' any grease within reach of the heat.

Magicgrotto said:

Was never any good at standing on mi head !

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You should have seen me turning the monitor over .. it's a 50" plasma on the wall ...

PMSL.

Magicgrotto said:

PMSL.

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Yeah, I ain't stupid enough to do a headstand .. not at my age ...

Should be right way round now..?

NSSlim said:

Should be right way round now..?

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No worries, we're taking the piss ...

@NSSlim , Is this still under warranty by any chance? I'm presuming that it had this work done at a main stealer ??

I have never known a master cylinder "self activate" though I suppose it might be possible for the servo to pull the brakes on in some weird (read very rare ) failure mode.. which leads me to two possible causes - the ABS system is playing silly b*gg*rs, or as Paul D says, above, the calipers are shot, and each time you get to a certain point on the pad wear level, they stick on due corrosion on the pistons - and stick on pretty badly too

How many miles has she done in total ?

Thank god ! I was getting a BLOOD RUSH !
Set of NEW calipers & pads & your good to go !!

Disco1BFG said:

@NSSlim , Is this still under warranty by any chance? I'm presuming that it had this work done at a main stealer ??

I have never known a master cylinder "self activate" though I suppose it might be possible for the servo to pull the brakes on in some weird (read very rare ) failure mode.. which leads me to two possible causes - the ABS system is playing silly b*gg*rs, or as Paul D says, above, the calipers are shot, and each time you get to a certain point on the pad wear level, they stick on due corrosion on the pistons - and stick on pretty badly too

How many miles has she done in total ?

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The car has done 25k in total. The last time the brakes, calipers and the cylinder head were changed was at 21k

NSSlim said:

The car has done 25k in total. The last time the brakes, calipers and the cylinder head were changed was at 21k

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It's still in warranty until 24/08/17 by a stroke of luck! Yes this is maindealer Ripon Landrover that was now Lloyds. Ah, they keep trying to sell me a new Disco but at £46k they're nuts! My last Landy was a 1979 South African built 110 that safely took me across 3 continents (Southern Africa, Australia/NZ and America) on a 100,000 km oddessy and 3 years - ah the dream?

Just a thought boy's & girls dunt these Defender things have a adjuster rod thingy ?
You don't suppose it's NOT been LOCKED off with the lock nut & it's applying the brakes !
Just a thought

Magicgrotto said:

Just a thought boy's & girls dunt these Defender things have a adjuster rod thingy ?
You don't suppose it's NOT been LOCKED off with the lock nut & it's applying the brakes !
Just a thought

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OM*G!! = scary - but it might explain the "self activating" bit

Disco1BFG said:

@NSSlim , Is this still under warranty by any chance? I'm presuming that it had this work done at a main stealer ??

I have never known a master cylinder "self activate" though I suppose it might be possible for the servo to pull the brakes on in some weird (read very rare ) failure mode.. which leads me to two possible causes - the ABS system is playing silly b*gg*rs, or as Paul D says, above, the calipers are shot, and each time you get to a certain point on the pad wear level, they stick on due corrosion on the pistons - and stick on pretty badly too

How many miles has she done in total ?

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if servo rod is over adjusted brakes are pulled on by the servo this can take a few miles