Found out why my brakes arent up to scratch

[MY95]

This.... (the rear left wheel, not ideal haha!)

[attachment=17415]

[Piggy]

Woooops!!!

[MY95]

Woooops!!!

haha indeed! could smell brakes when i was going down Kirkstone Pass yesterday, thats obviously why! and the disc on that side is pretty dirty whereas the other side is completely clean!

[Piggy]

How did you not feel that?!!!

One pad is missing!!!

[MY95]

Yeah 1 pad is missing and 1 is out of place, id wondered why braking hasnt been that sharp recently! GTI6 setup soon though
Will my mpg be reduced because of this?

[Piggy]

Gti6 brakes arent any different on the rears.

I hope your not still guna drive it like that?!! I just cant believe you didnt feel it like that

Unless piston is seized?!

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MPG reduced because of what mate?

[MY95]

Gti6 brakes arent any different on the rears.

I hope your not still guna drive it like that?!! I just cant believe you didnt feel it like that

Unless piston is seized?!

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MPG reduced because of what mate?

To be honest im pretty sure the piston is seized
For now im geting the nearly new pads out of the rallye nd putting them in the HDI tonight so gotta drive about 10 miles before i can get them switched
mpg reduced due to missign a rear pad and a pad being out of place?

[welshpug]

that is 100% not safe to drive.

[MY95]

that is 100% not safe to drive.

I have to drive it 10 miles though, all along country roads at 60 ish and a few 30s so its not too bad a drive over, still brakes well though

[pugmanxud]

Still brakes well haha!!

[welshpug]

that is 100% not safe to drive.

I have to drive it 10 miles though, all along country roads at 60 ish and a few 30s so its not too bad a drive over, still brakes well though

no you don't, get someone to bring the pads to you.

[Piggy]

That is 110% not safe to drive!!!!!

Walk it, cycle, get a lift...just dont drive it!!! Brake hard, IE in an emergency where someones life is at risk and you'll soon see that its dangerous!!

Then, due to the condition of brakes and your knowledge, you will be prosecuted and your insurance will likely not pay out!!

Seriously, I may sound a bit dramatic but ...not worth the risk

[toseland]

i see no problem here... =D

[Curt]

It always gets me when people say they "have to drive" for whatever reason. If a car is not safe to drive, don't drive it. You get around it. It's not only yourself you're risking, it's other road users. Don't be selfish and drive an unfit car on the road, brakes are NOT something you mess around with.

[MY95]

Car now safely home with new rear pads in, thanks for worrying though guys
Car now brakes better and also pulls better too, very happy.

[Toms306]

Just to check, you have put the retaining clip in properly this time?

Or we'll get deja vu within a few days.

[MY95]

The rectangular shaped bracket thing wen on with one of the clip things, there was no retaining clips with the Rallye rear brakes unfortunately, they seem very well stuck in for the moment as they were brand new pads, will see what happens in the next few weeks, old retaining clips/bracket were lost when the pad from the last set went mssing

[Piggy]

Need those retaining clips asap

Dont drive it without them...you'll just be in same situation...possibly with a "look what I crashed into" thread pretty soon!

[Jonny81191]

FFS get the car OFF the road and sort out the brakes. If you can't do it, call a mobile mechanic. You 100% need the retaining pins (the clue's in the name)

[sweeney1987]

all ye lads worry way too much, sure front brakes do most of the braking...

[MY95]

Thankyou sweeney1987! Haha
Yea the rear brakes are important as they do 20% of the braking give or take a few, but the front ones make the most difference
Thanks for worrying though lads!

[powerandtorque]

The front brakes won't do a damned thing all the time that the rear caliper piston has nothing to press against because the pad has just fallen out - it'll take two or three presses of the pedal going to the floor to take up the gap, and that's likely the difference between ploughing into the car in front or not.

As others have said, fix the brakes properly or don't drive. It's really that simple.

The pad retaining L-shaped bar and the clip that secures it are absolutely critical on the Bendix calipers. With the clip missing the pad retaining bar will slowly work its way out, and once it comes out, there's nothing at all securing the pads and they will start to fall out.

[Seb_Ryan]

The front brakes won't do a damned thing all the time that the rear caliper piston has nothing to press against because the pad has just fallen out - it'll take two or three presses of the pedal going to the floor to take up the gap, and that's likely the difference between ploughing into the car in front or not.

As others have said, fix the brakes properly or don't drive. It's really that simple.

The pad retaining L-shaped bar and the clip that secures it are absolutely critical on the Bendix calipers. With the clip missing the pad retaining bar will slowly work its way out, and once it comes out, there's nothing at all securing the pads and they will start to fall out.

This, or until all the brake fluid comes out where the piston went too far.

Crazy how some people drive their cars lol

[Piggy]

Thankyou sweeney1987! Haha
Yea the rear brakes are important as they do 20% of the braking give or take a few, but the front ones make the most difference
Thanks for worrying though lads!

Serious?!

Please tell me your joking?!

Do you even know how brake systems work?!!

[HDIkyle]

I had this heard scraping was about 200 miles away down south. Shit setup really

[Piggy]

Weird thing is...I have never in my ownership and maintenance of friends 306s and similar has this happen.....guess just luck of the draw perhaps.....either way its outright irresponsible to drive without that clip, as small as it may be

[MY95]

The front brakes won't do a damned thing all the time that the rear caliper piston has nothing to press against because the pad has just fallen out - it'll take two or three presses of the pedal going to the floor to take up the gap, and that's likely the difference between ploughing into the car in front or not.

As others have said, fix the brakes properly or don't drive. It's really that simple.

The pad retaining L-shaped bar and the clip that secures it are absolutely critical on the Bendix calipers. With the clip missing the pad retaining bar will slowly work its way out, and once it comes out, there's nothing at all securing the pads and they will start to fall out.

Ok cheers for the info

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Thankyou sweeney1987! Haha
Yea the rear brakes are important as they do 20% of the braking give or take a few, but the front ones make the most difference
Thanks for worrying though lads!

Serious?!

Please tell me your joking?!

Do you even know how brake systems work?!!

I have an idea how the brakes work but im not that clued up on it, but still theres way more pressure on the front brakes than rears

[Piggy]

But you wont have any brakes if the pads come out the caliper.....the amount of braking effort over the two axles is irrelevant
Not until you pump like mad...whilst flying towards a wall/car/child...and the piston contacts the disc...which may not happen before it pops out and pee's fluid out.

[powerandtorque]

Exactly. To generate pressure on a hydraulic circuit you've got to have something to push against with rather more resistance than thin air.

"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing" as the saying goes.

[sweeney1987]

you deffo shouldnt drive without the clip, its much safer to take off the caliper and disconnect the abs...