How good should the brakes be????

[platmatt8]

I`m a little concerned with the brakes on my 93 tubby.

The long and short of the problem is they dont fill me with any confidence.

Thus far i`ve changed the fluid, pads (OEM) and flexi lines but the car still doesn't seem to have a definitive biting point when applied hard i.e i don't think i could lock them up if i tried.

Although with the old pads/lines/fluid the car passed it`s MOT have i just become to used to the modern braking of new cars?

Or is something like the master cylinder on its way out?

[MR2O12]

The brakes are good, you just have to give them a good prod!

Newer cars feel very snatchy because of all the servo assist. Nearly sent a girl threw the windscreen when i moved her mums peugeot 4x4 that was blocking my way few months ago.

[jasongtr]

mine are perfectly good, so much that i was going big brake kit but decided i didnt need it

[platmatt8]

I remember the brakes on my rev 5 Na being much sharper than this though, are they servo assisted?

[jasongtr]

all of them are

[synXero]

Perhaps you need to do more quads exercises?

Just being facetious. I find the brakes on my rev3 NA import are certainly less immediate and electric on/off feeling by comparison to the 2008 Mini One in the family, they have more sponge in the pedal let's say, but they definitely lock the wheels if you press them with any degree of intent. I haven't personally done any brakes work on my car so can't suggest any upgrades/maintenance.

If you test whether all brakes are weak, just fronts, just rears, or just one specific brake, you'd at least be able to determine roughly how far down the system the problem is.

There is always the tubing that connects to the brake hoses you've changed...?

[cvega666]

I find the brakes on my rev3 NA import are certainly less immediate and electric on/off feeling by comparison to the 2008 Mini One in the family, they have more sponge in the pedal let's say, but they definitely lock the wheels if you press them with any degree of intent. I

I have had similar impressions about both my MR2's and my 2007 civic. Brakes in the latter are much easier to press and feel like there is much more control - I, too, have catapulted my passenger towards the windscreen a couple times because of that.
The MR2 needed some serious foot force but they were very possible to lock up on the non-abs car. Try them out on loose surface and see if you can lock them up - should be able to easily. If not, I'd check for sticky / seized calipers.

[KarlBristol]

Mine felt very spongy, especially as I have a 2012 Octavia as a daily driver. I'm currently doing a full brake overhaul, and it has made a huge difference! It's certainly a different feel to a newer car, but now feels more solid and less spongy...

Here is what I've done to mine, (can thoroughly suggest all of the below) the list so far;

New discs
New pads
New braided brake hoses
New calipers
New custom brake lines
New brake fluid

Can honestly say its worth replacing all of the above
It will feel a bit dated as some of the earlier mk2s are knocking on a bit! Lol.

[platmatt8]

Well I've just fitted new pads, flexi lines and new dot5.1 fluid and honestly was expecting the brakes to be pin sharp and the car to stop on a six pence but sadly not.

Is is better but still not what I'd expect.

Again I'm I expecting to much from a 19 year old car?


P.s I wound the rear pistons in when I fitted the new pads on the rears do these sort themselves out with regards to the hand brake? Because it works fine but I've read your supposed to wind them all the way in and 1.5 turns out??

P.p.s discs are new also

[cvega666]

do the pistons move freely? the sliders are a common failure point.
I must say though, even after changing the calipers to refurbished my brakes felt nowhere near a modern car.

[platmatt8]

Pistons pushed in easy enough and the sliders moved freely.

That's probably the answer I'm after. Maybe I just expecting to much from the old braking system.

Would I see any Benefit from changing the master cylinder?


Ps as per my last post above, will the rear pistons sort them self out?

PPS is the master cylinder a known failing point on the mr2?

[GreddyMR2]

Here is what I've done to mine, (can thoroughly suggest all of the below) the list so far;

New discs
New pads
New braided brake hoses
New calipers
New custom brake lines
New brake fluid

Can honestly say its worth replacing all of the above
It will feel a bit dated as some of the earlier mk2s are knocking on a bit! Lol.

Well, fluid will do nothing for braking efficiancy Higher grade fluid just overheat (boils) in higher temp. Spongy pedal is related to rubber hoses, I think, so braided help here.

PPS is the master cylinder a known failing point on the mr2?

Never heard of that.

[GreddyMR2]

Delete this post...

[alanmr2turbo]

Here is what I've done to mine, (can thoroughly suggest all of the below) the list so far;

New discs
New pads
New braided brake hoses
New calipers
New custom brake lines
New brake fluid

Can honestly say its worth replacing all of the above
It will feel a bit dated as some of the earlier mk2s are knocking on a bit! Lol.

Well, fluid will do nothing for braking efficiancy Higher grade fluid just overheat (boils) in higher temp. Spongy pedal is related to rubber hoses, I think, so braided help here.

PPS is the master cylinder a known failing point on the mr2?

Never heard of that.

Never havea iheard s much complete bull

Changing the fluid WILL and CAN make a differance if the fluid is old. This is why you are meant to change it at a given time intervals.

Yes, master cylinders DO let go same as anything that has rubber seals inside.

[Harold]

Here is what I've done to mine, (can thoroughly suggest all of the below) the list so far;

New discs
New pads
New braided brake hoses
New calipers
New custom brake lines
New brake fluid

Can honestly say its worth replacing all of the above
It will feel a bit dated as some of the earlier mk2s are knocking on a bit! Lol.

Well, fluid will do nothing for braking efficiancy Higher grade fluid just overheat (boils) in higher temp. Spongy pedal is related to rubber hoses, I think, so braided help here.

PPS is the master cylinder a known failing point on the mr2?

Never heard of that.

Never havea iheard s much complete bull

Changing the fluid WILL and CAN make a differance if the fluid is old. This is why you are meant to change it at a given time intervals.

Yes, master cylinders DO let go same as anything that has rubber seals inside.

Indeed, brake fluid is hygroscopic and absorbs water over time, so if your fluid is old changing it can make a huge difference.

[Loque]

If it makes you feel any better, mine are pretty lousy in comparison to an MX-5 of similar vintage (albeit less miles)

[platmatt8]

Is there a test you can perform to check the master cylinder?

[Rob]

I have the same problem on my 93 Turbo conversion.

In comparison, my 2001 BMW 325Ci daily driver has very confident brakes and i wonder if it is just a different era of technology.

However, I am sure my brakes used to feel better on the MR2 (pre-conversion). Now, having done the following:

New grooved discs (CRN gold Zinc plated)
New EBC YEllow Stuff Pads
New Goodrich braided lines
Reconditioned front calipers
Master cylinder brace
Motul RBF900 fluid

All properly bled.

...they still suck

All brake lines and 1-way valve tested and working fine.

My next course of action:

Swap the brake booster from a Rev2 Turbo in (in case there are differences between that and my cars N/A booster).
Change pads to a less performance focussed variant.

[platmatt8]

My rev 5 NA had better brakes than my current rev 2, I'm sure of this because when I sold it, on the test drive the chap wanted to test them so he preformed an emergency stop and we STOPPED!

[Loque]

aren't yellow stuff pads the ones that properly have to be warmed up? Why not go carbotech if you're of the major conversion inclination