Brake pedal feel

[sambb]

so Simon are you saying after going through the whole vcds process your pedal is better than it was initially back at the start of the thread or just the same still?

[simon k]

It's worse than it was at the start, but I think if I persevered it'd be better. I'd need a few more bottles of brake fluid. It was starting to come out clean, but still a bit manky, and cloudy with micro bubbles.

VW have it right now. They're going to do a pressure bleed with ABS cycle using their computer, then figure out if there is something really wrong with the booster or otherwise

[simon k]

It's no better after VW had it, they want it back again. They said they rang Sydney who told them to do another bleed, but they need instructions first. I have a feeling they didn't use the computer this time but will when they get it back again.

[genebaby]

Good luck with it, I'm following this to hopefully find you got it sorted and worked out what the issue was.

[simon k]

I spent a couple of hours tonight with my mate using his pressure bleeder and VCDS, the pedal is a bit better than it was but still squishy. We put at least 4l of fluid through it and I'm sure there is no air left in the system.

I've tried a few hard stops on gravel, wet road, different speeds etc. and the pedal is OK for one application after that but it goes squishy again

I rang a couple of VW wreckers to see if they knew of an alternative bigger bore MC but they had no clue (and didn't really want to help). Can anyone recommend someone with a bit of imagination who'd know what might be interchangeable?

[Sydneykid]

I spent a couple of hours tonight with my mate using his pressure bleeder and VCDS, the pedal is a bit better than it was but still squishy. We put at least 4l of fluid through it and I'm sure there is no air left in the system.

I've tried a few hard stops on gravel, wet road, different speeds etc. and the pedal is OK for one application after that but it goes squishy again

I rang a couple of VW wreckers to see if they knew of an alternative bigger bore MC but they had no clue (and didn't really want to help). Can anyone recommend someone with a bit of imagination who'd know what might be interchangeable?

One stop then squishy, that sounds like pad material, what are you using?


Cheers
Gary

[sambb]

Muller and Muller track their VW's and at one stage ran a polo. Harding performance ran a rally Pog too. Cambden Gti have a Polo gti track day car and may know something.

[simon k]

One stop then squishy, that sounds like pad material, what are you using?


Cheers
Gary

They're squishy from cold Gary, it's just that the pedal will go a bit harder after a stop with the ABS kicking in. The pads are Ferodo Racing something, I got them from Sam.. it was the same with the old pads. From what everyone is saying here, it seems like it's just a Polo thing, but some people have it better than others.

I'll pester Camden GTI, didn't think of him

[Sydneykid]

They're squishy from cold Gary, it's just that the pedal will go a bit harder after a stop with the ABS kicking in. The pads are Ferodo Racing something, I got them from Sam.. it was the same with the old pads. From what everyone is saying here, it seems like it's just a Polo thing, but some people have it better than others.

I'll pester Camden GTI, didn't think of him

DS2500?
If so we have always found them to have a vague pedal, most drivers won't use them.

Cheers
Gary

[simon k]

DS2500?
If so we have always found them to have a vague pedal, most drivers won't use them.

Cheers
Gary

SAM!! What are my brake pads?! They're not far from worn out, what should i be using?

Edit: they are DS2500, tut tut.. Gary if you can recommend a brand and product line I'll have a dig for something in USA that might adapt from a Golf or other car

I remembered what my previous pads are - Remsa, was recommended on here somewhere but I thought they were vague too.

Edit again, I was digging around last night and found something that reminded me of something else that bugs me with the brakes, the brake pedal sinks so low that I can't heel and toe with the accelerator. I tried it on the way to work today and it's very difficult

[simon k]

I had a chat with a brake place and the guy said the same thing about the ds2500, but thought I should go back to the Remsas again and see, I didn't think they were much good, but maybe I have better rotors now?

However, If the brakes are over boosted, then what about reducing the amount of boost?

I don't think I'd remove the booster entirely, there's a small hill near my house and I tried rolling down it with the engine not running and it was pretty hard to stop the car

Putting a restrictor in the vacuum line won't work because the vacuum will still build up to the same level, just slower, so the brakes would be inconsistent from corner to corner depending on how long it was since the brakes were used.

Reducing the total vacuum could be done with a vacuum switch and solenoid valve.

It goes manifold -> valve -> switch -> booster

When the booster has "enough" vacuum stored up, the switch shuts the valve, then you push the brake pedal and the vacuum is released, the switch opens the valve and the vacuum is pulled in the booster again...

[h100vw]

They're squishy from cold Gary, it's just that the pedal will go a bit harder after a stop with the ABS kicking in. The pads are Ferodo Racing something, I got them from Sam.. it was the same with the old pads. From what everyone is saying here, it seems like it's just a Polo thing, but some people have it better than others.

I'll pester Camden GTI, didn't think of him

Matt shut up shop. Never heard him complain about his brakes though.

[sambb]

Yeah they are Ferodo DS2500. Yeah there's better pads around but out of the crop of trackable pads that were actually available off the shelf for the Polo (QFM AR1M, EBC red/green stuff) and the good ones that have to be custom (Hawk), they were the best really. I can tell you they had a better pedal than the Remsas so I wouldnt waste your dollars expecting a better pedal with them and they are hopeless at track speeds compared to the Ferodo's, or at least I found that.
Yeah I'd thought about some sort of restrictor on the booster line too Simon because they are definitely overboosted too, so if you come up with anything I'm all ears. There is the Y-piece vacuum booster jet or whatever the hell they call it. Its on the brake booster line and tee's in a line straight from the TIP. When the mani goes into vacuum the mani will draw on the booster and also suck air from the TIP directly I assume for emissions reasons knowing VW. But I've seen it written that the venturi action amplifies the booster draw. I capped off the TIP line and removed the Y piece in the hope that would help but apart from initial placebo excitment I think it did zilch.
And yep the only way you can heel and toe is to not use your heel. I sought of use the outside edge of my shoe with side force to do it which works way better than having to lift your heel back out and onto the accelerator pedal.

[simon k]

Matt shut up shop. Never heard him complain about his brakes though.

I texted him the other day, he's using the standard parts. He suggested a restrictor in the vacuum line but I don't think that'd work

[sambb]

restrictors in air lines have the biggest impact at fast changes in air speeds rather than slow ones. So a steady state restrictor might be good for that moment when you've been under boost and then climb on the anchors ie the restrictor not allowing the booster to be fully vacuumed in that short time. You may get a harder pedal at that time but weird things could then happen where as the booster comes into play (if say you were in a long braking zone) you might find you pedal pressure has to change. But I imagine it'd be fully boosted no matter what you did at normal vaccum style driving as the restrictor wouldnt be able to play any real part then in being able to prevent the vacuum drawing on the booster because of the almost constant vacuum draw acting on the booster.