Brake failure on 2001 Ducato Forums

bren96

Hi

I recently had a nasty experience in my 2001 Ducato (Burstner motorhome 115,000 km) 2 weeks ago.

My brakes failed to engage properly.

Wife, 3 Kids and I were approaching a junction and when I pressed the pedal and it went down a lot of the way but there was none of the usual spongy pressure there. I had enough time to say to my wife "Theres something wrong with the brakes" (twice) and I started pumping the pedal and although the pressure did not come back to the pedal the ABS did eventuall kick in on the 4th or 5th pump.

We skidded out onto a junction. I grabbed for the handbrake on the but it was too late as a passing jeep took a lot of the front end off. Very scary for all involved!!

Had we got to the junction 1 or 2 seconds earlier the jeep would have come through the side of the motorhome where my 3 kids were.

I had to drive it off the junction later and the brakes were working again and when the mechanic took it into the shop he said they seemed to be fine.

It had new brake pads 1400km ago.

My wife told me afterwards that the brakes didn't engage properly once before for her when she was rolling it down the drive at our house but as it was one of her first times driving it she didn't really pay attention to it and used the handbrake. The next time she pressed the pedal it worked fine so she didn't think any more of it.

Anyone got any ideas as to what it might be that I can ask the mechanic to look for?

chapter

it sounds like water in the brake fluid

teemyob

Hello there,

I am with chapter on this one, first thing to check. I changed the fluid every 2-3 years. Something a lot of owners, main dealers and other garages ignore.

Let us know how you go on.

Trev.

davesport

Couple of questions.

Has any fluid leaked from the system ? IE, been ejected under pressure whilst you were experiencing the failure. Possibly from a seal either in the M/C, or caliper.

Do you know defacto that your wheel bearings are in good condition ? Play in the wheel bearing can cause pad knock-off whick moves the pads away from the disc & causes exactly the symptoms you describe.

Couple of points bearing in mind I'm not a brake specialist. If the cause of this is'nt found it could happen again. I'm unconvinced by the water in the BF theory. Water can turn to steam under conditions that cause the brakes & fluid to become hot & cause a vapour lock. IE lots of heavy &/or protracted use causing a loss of pedal. Essentially the same as having an air lock when bleeding the brakes during maintenance.

Firstly you'd have to generate the conditions under which the fluid would get to the required temperature. This is'nt going to happen in your driveway. Was the engine running on this occasion ?

Secondly I doubt you'd have got the pedal back. If the ABS has activated then the brake line pressure has eventually come up enough for one of the wheels to lose traction (Brakes now functioning)

Binding or sticking brake ? Well, that could cause enough localised heat to cause a vapour lock but IMO your brakes would'nt then have recovered enough for them to activate the ABS.

In conclusion I'm in serious doubt about the water in the fluid theory. I suggest you have the full system looked at by a specialist. I'm putting my money on something mechanical.

<Hat ready to be eaten & Humble pie at the ready>

Regards Dave.

china

check the the rubber pipe from the manifold to the servo if its blocking internally it takes the power off giving the impression of brake failure,it takes twice the distance to stop .it happend on my volvo once
peter

homerdog

I think it's time for no guessing and getting a garage you trust to look at it.
Water in fluid? Maybe.
No servo? Nope!
Pad knock off? After having pads changed. Maybe.

See! Too many non answers. H

GBrapido

i had similar symptoms on my old 1996 ducato.

i was driving down the A16 from calais and went for the brakes to stop for the toll booth, but had no brakes and had to pump them up to stop, no incident thank goodness. but had to call out the rescue man from a nice little town.

anyway turned out that one of the cheap brake discs had warped and was pushing back the pads on one wheel. giving long travel of the pedal.

hope this helps, but definately get it checked out properly.

Geoff B

MandyandDave · Moderator

Had a similar instance in the past (brake pedal went to floor with very little braking effect) turned out to be a leaking wheel cylinder that needed replacing.
That was on a '92 Ducato..

Dave Smile

davesport

Any update on this ?

Dave.