Long Brake Pedal Syndrome?

[Richard Miller]

Originally Posted by PCrover

My friendly LR Service Mngr has explained to me that the reason my brake pedal feels musshy on my 2001 DII is due to "Long Brake Pedal Syndrome". WTF? Is this guy crazy or is it me? He says there is nothing he can do and that bleeding the brakes won't make a difference. His explanation to why mine does this and another same year truck doesn't is "MFG tolerances" and "Rovers are no all the same". When I have had other vehicles with a soft pedal that becomes firm on the second pump, it is due to the brake system needing bleeding. Is this not true for Land Rovers? Can some one please exlplain "Long Brake Pedal Syndrome" to me?

I have a 2000 Disco Series II with similar features. I has now done 160,000Kms so I am getting used to putting my foot into a bucket of slop. The "true" reason for the mushy brakes is the amount of boost in the system.
Remember in the TD5 the boost comes from the vacuum pump, not the manifold as in the V8. This extra boost means that you get little feel in the brakes. Just to show it is as I say and not air in the system, with the engine stopped, press the pedal a couple of times. Once the surplus boost is used the pedal should be rock hard. If not you have air in the system.
Richard Miller
Australia

[PCrover]

Staring at the right rear and open the bleed valve allowing it to drip (through tubing into a container) until clear fluid comes thru (Takes quite a while), then close valve and go to the next wheel, then next, then next. Make sure you keep the resevoir full of clean fluid.

YMMV. This is a no effort job, and it helped mine to be tollerable.

[Chris Hyde]

Are you guys using DOT4?

[Chris Hyde]

PS Gary, got the lamps. Thanks.

[PCrover]

I am, Dot 4 Castrol.

FYI, I got the hood BO today.

[RockyRon]

Originally Posted by PCrover

I did a gravity bleed of the brakes today in my 2001 DII and it helped a whole bunch. I can now brake with only one push of the pedal, instead of having to pump it twice. It still is not as firm as I would want it, but it is acceptable now.

Glad to hear it Gary. Looks as if it really is a somewhat common occurence on early series 2's. So burping the master cylinder helps - -

[PCrover]

Hi Ron! Good to see your getting out on other forums