braking problems

My 1996(N) 3.9V8i Disco has been having some trouble stopping. i live on the top of a hill and have had this problem for some time, i get in the car start it up and set off down the hill, as i am braking the brakes seem to go all "grindy" and i need to press the pedal much harder to stop, so i continue down the hill with caution and continue with my drive. they work fine then. if i then stop the car in town (for instance to grab some shopping) the very 1st time i brake after starting the car again the brakes will do exactly the same thing again-the other day nearly resulting in my misus going into the back of a VW camper!, if i remember and pump the pedal when i 1st start the car the problem doesnt seem to happen. also it seems to happen a lot more in the wet - especially if i am cornering down my hill whilst applying the brake. the abs lights been forever, could this be the problem? ive just put new mintex pads and discs all round which seemed to solve the problem for a short time but now its back. i noticed the other day whilst driving with the windows open you would hear it from under the bonnet a kindof "ding ding dong ding" noise but hard to locate exact position whilst driving. any suggestions?

look for the midget under your bonnet and remove his hammer!

ha ha, ive just shot the bastard but that damn noise is still there!

*snigger*

if i was you mate i would take it in for a break system check(don't get the same garage to do the work however)

Hi there, just thought i would share this with you, i pulled the ABS fuse out today and woohoo -its stopped, i thought i had better check propperly so i went to a very quiet spot and with 2 wheels on mud/grass and 2 on tarmac i braked and that grindy sound/feeling has gone - so has the abs now obviously but its a lot safer now -no abs is def safer than the dodgy, intermittent abs i had, just need to save some pennies now and bite the bullet and take it to a landrover garage for ABS diagnostics - thats gonna cost i bet. anyone in north wales with a t4 diagnostics?

Does your abs light come on at all? It should come on during start up, flash off briefly and then stay on until driven for a few feet.

I had this problem when trying to fix my abs. One of the wheel sensors gaps was too large - so the abs over-reacts and takes the brake off the wheel too quickly. The abs then realises there's something up and turns itself off (hence you only get it once).

However, I'm suprised the fault occurs on next drive as abs should then be disabled until fault is cleared from the computer (which is what I did).

If you have no abs light at all I suggest you first check if the bulb is there/working.

If the light does not wink off during startup you have a stored fault in your abs.

If your light stays on all the time you have an active fault.

See -

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f8/300-abs-light-27043-4.html

I suspect a sensor gap. These are on the top of the hub with wires going into them. The computer will tell you which one. Jack up, remove wheel, spray with wd40 and then tap gently.

Also check for Glazed pads.........

cheers guys, this has been a MASSIVE problem for me since i bought the car about 8 months ago (just read my threads!) i've had it on a (dodgy) T4 -no joy, got the alarm led on the dash to blink out the fault codes to me (using a paperclip to bridge 2 wires on the diagnostic socket - no joy -the codes didnt match the charts on this forum, ive had a mechanic and my old man have a good look at it - checking the sensors for continuity etc etc, to be honest its the only major fault i can say i have with my landy and do wish it was sorted. i do think its gonna have to go on a proper T4 so i can at least isolate the problem and then fix/replace the part. the only thing that concerns me slightly is the fact that when i did the paperclip thing not only 1 but 2 or 3 other fault codes were indicated. still £40 to find out its worth a go, worse case scenario come m o t time the bulb may myseriously go "out"

Hi, I am having the same problem with my 95 300tdi, as you say it is very dangerous, def a sensor problem on one of the two front wheels, the abs light has been on ever since i bought the car around two years ago, it went in for a service last month and also had the brake pads changed, when I got the car back the abs light was still on, however, the following day on starting the car the light went out, I thought it was great to have the abs working again until i nearly went in to the back of a lorry at 3 mph, I have had this happen on a number of occasions and am now very cautious when braking, I am hoping that its just simple problem with the sensor.....with a cheap solution.....

mrnice said:

not only 1 but 2 or 3 other fault codes were indicated...

Click to expand...

The computer will remember all the fault codes you've ever had so having 2 or 3 fault codes over 15 years is OK.

You just need to clear them and find out which one comes back - this is the "Active" Fault.

To clear them remove the paperclip while the light is flashing, put the relay back in and then turn the ignition off and on again.

Just fix the faults that re-occur.

The sensor faults will not re-occur until you drive the vehicle. The sensor thinks the wheel is slowing to much (as it gets a low reading due to air gap) and so firstly:

* activates a solenoid to constrict the flow to that wheel (the hammering noise)
* and then turns on the hydraulic moter to relieve pressure (the whining noise) which backs off all your brakes!

(This is when you are scared)

The £40 reading will just tell you the same faults.

I think this is what you are experiencing - so once the computer tells you which sensor - just tap it in. This does not really require any more ability than being able to remove a wheel.

Stuart

Kellymike said:

Hi, I am having the same problem with my 95 300tdi, as you say it is very dangerous, def a sensor problem on one of the two front wheels, the abs light has been on ever since i bought the car around two years ago, it went in for a service last month and also had the brake pads changed, when I got the car back the abs light was still on, however, the following day on starting the car the light went out, I thought it was great to have the abs working again until i nearly went in to the back of a lorry at 3 mph, I have had this happen on a number of occasions and am now very cautious when braking, I am hoping that its just simple problem with the sensor.....with a cheap solution.....

Click to expand...

Hey mate i seriously suggest you remove the ABS fuse until the problem is fixed as i have, my braking is now SO MUCH safer, ok it locks up if you really stamp on the pedal but so does any car without ABS. having "normal braking" is so much better/safer than the russian roullette braking i had experienced for MONTHS. to be honest i cant believe what a plonker i had been by not thinking of removing the fuse as soon as i had noticed the problem! so simple. still i'm learning all the time

Same problem on my last Disco. 98 TDI - Wheel bearings have to be spot on. Had mine changed and the intermittent ABS cutting in will probably go!
Out here in SPain there is a guy with all the diagnostics you can shake a hairy stick at and he has found all faults in my last 2 cars. So rather than chucking money away which I previously did (I'm mechanically minded by the way) thinking I knew better, the 50 quid for nearly 2 hrs of diagnostic was well worth it - and you'll feel better about the car immediately when he tells you that your abs pump is working fine, the engine airflow and cranks sensors/electrics are also fine.

Mark

why not post the fault codes.. a few o us have had abs issues and might recognise them.. I know I was peed off when I paid the dosh for a reading as I was getting a code that wasn't on any of the lists but that might be info that saves you the dosh..

there are 2 sets of fault codes depending on somethin which i cant remember. ive got both sets of codes here so if you post up the codes il check what they are.