New Brake Fluid - now Brake Pedal Travel

[PhilNeo]

Hi all,

I had service on my 2003 1.6S Leon yesterday, and they changed the brake fluid. Now there is approx 1 - 1 1/2 inches of brake pedal travel before anything happens, and then the brakes work fine.

I have searched and see that it could be one of many things - needs more bleeding; needs the master cylinder bleeding; needs the ABS system bleeding; or the seals in the master cylinder have been 'inverted'.

I intend to take it back to the garage, but before I do, could anyone tell me what the most likely solution would be - the garage did say that they bled the system several times and have see this issue on several VWs before.

Many thanks

Phil

 

[DPJ]

If your pedal was fine before, the most likely reason is that they haven't bled it properly. This has happened to me with a dealer. They 'blamed' a fault on their power bleeder.

 

[traumapat]

local garage with a "vw expert" did mine. lost confidence when he said they would "sort themselves out"

car was up at jabbasport following week and they sorted it... but cant remember exactly what was wrong... master cylinder rings bells.

 

[andycupra]

local garage with a "vw expert" did mine. lost confidence when he said they would "sort themselves out"

car was up at jabbasport following week and they sorted it... but cant remember exactly what was wrong... master cylinder rings bells.

if they replaced the master cylinder im sure you would remember as its not cheap!
perhaps they blead the cylinder?

 

[PhilNeo]

Thanks for the quick replies. I will ring them and get it booked back in - maybe they didn't bleed the master cylinder.

 

[traumapat]

if they replaced the master cylinder im sure you would remember as its not cheap!
perhaps they blead the cylinder?

yes sorry it was all ment in a "bleed" sense, as opposed to anything else in the system. abs ect

 

[skahigh]

chaps, where can I find the brake master cylinder? anyone got any pics?

I'm trying to locate brake pressure sender g214 which may or may not screw into the bottom of the master cylinder.

 

[ibizacupra]

its attached to the brake servo.. drivers side, engine bay, next to strut turret

 

[Willie]

It'll probably be the master cylinder that wasn't bled right. It's a bitch to get to and there are two bleed points on it so probably this that was forgotten. Thats exactly how mine felt when the MC was not bled right

 

[skahigh]

its attached to the brake servo.. drivers side, engine bay, next to strut turret

cheers bill, it occurred to me later on that it was probably somewhere near the brake fluid resevoir.

 

[Muttley]

skahigh, pressure sensors G201 and G214 are screwed in underneath the master cylinder, which is where Bill says it is. G214 is closest to the vacuum servo.

If you're having trouble finding it, are you sure you should be playing with the brakes at all? I mean, it's got to be on the other end of the rod attached to the brake pedal, hasn't it?

 

[skahigh]

skahigh, pressure sensors G201 and G214 are screwed in underneath the master cylinder, which is where Bill says it is. G214 is closest to the vacuum servo.

If you're having trouble finding it, are you sure you should be playing with the brakes at all? I mean, it's got to be on the other end of the rod attached to the brake pedal, hasn't it?

Don't worry I'm not a complete idiot and I have the help of a certain VERY experienced parental figure.

 

[jasengine]

Now I have exactly the same problem. I installed braided lines one the front with no problems. This week I installed the rear new hoses, blead each side (made sure the resivior was kept toped up) and now the peddle has more travel than before. I have the SE TDI (2000) model.
So you recon the MC needs bleeding also?

 

[jasengine]

I bled the master cylinder last night, and the fluid was clear of air and the peddle still goes down half way!
Iv'e ordered a vacuum bleeder kit, so I will be able to clear the real brake lines properly without touching the peddle! watch this space!

 

[welsh boy]

Hi all,

I had service on my 2003 1.6S Leon yesterday, and they changed the brake fluid. Now there is approx 1 - 1 1/2 inches of brake pedal travel before anything happens, and then the brakes work fine.

I have searched and see that it could be one of many things - needs more bleeding; needs the master cylinder bleeding; needs the ABS system bleeding; or the seals in the master cylinder have been 'inverted'.

I intend to take it back to the garage, but before I do, could anyone tell me what the most likely solution would be - the garage did say that they bled the system several times and have see this issue on several VWs before.

Many thanks

Phil

I had my 2004 Leon serviced by an independent VW garage yesterday and came out with the same problem - they said that they bled the system 6 times. Phil, how did you get on when you took it back to the garage and did you find out what was causing the problem?

Paul

 

[PhilNeo]

Paul - I took it back and they said they they did another "Pressure Bleed" (I presume that forces the brake fluid or something) and it was perfect after that.
Cheers, Phil

 

[Muttley]

Jas, you will need to bleed all four brake lines as well as the master cylinder.