Front Brake Rotors

[ykfc]

If the old pads were original equipment type and the new ones are semi-metallic, they might not seem as responsive and require a little more pressure. I wonder about the comment that he has to press "deeper". If the pedal feels spongy or goes down close to the floor, the lines might need to be bled. Were the calipers or lines changed?

Thanks.

I am not sure what my mechanics had done. When he did the pads for me he said the rotor has not yet reached its end of life so he didn't replaced it.

Now I have to use more pressure to apply the brake. What do I mean by "deeper"? Put it this way, before pads change the brake padal is well above the floor but now it is closer to the floor with brake applying.

Yesterday I discussed the issue with another mechanics over phone. His comment was: bendix pads are not as "soft" as other types. If Bendix pads were used instead of "softer" pads, it creates less brake dusts as Bendix pads are harder.

How do you judge the minimum thickness of the rotor? Do we have a different feel when the thickness is close to minimum?


Thanks so much.

[holler1]

ow do you judge the minimum thickness of the rotor? Do we have a different feel when the thickness is close to minimum?

There is a spec for min thickness, see Haynes manual or do a search. I don't know it offhand. No, there should not be a different feel with a thinner rotor. The calipers and pads adjust to rotor thickness automatically, and that should make no difference in feel or pedal height. Again, if the feel is spongy or mushy, you should get the brakes checked to see if they need to be bled or if there is some kind of leak. If you just have to push a little harder, that could be normal with harder pads. Any good mechanic should be able to tell you if bleeding is needed just by trying the brakes.

[da7]

thickness of front rotors 26mm
minimum thickness 23mm

if the brake is near the floor, then definately air in the system or master cylinder needs replacing, maybe check for leaks of brake fluid, check fluid level etc. to see if there is a leak...

first thing I'd do would be completely bleed the brake system with new fluid if that wasn't done already, this should usually be done once every 12 months...

[ChiNorm]

The first thing I would do is to throw the car back to the IM and ask them why the car was returned in this condition? Then have them bleed the brakes as they ought to have done. Didn't they test drive the car?

FWIW, this doesn't sound like the sharpest mechanic, nor does there seem to be any familiarity with Volvos. If so, they would not have chosen the Bendix product. Caveat Emptor.