V50 Brakes : Brake pedal (common problem)

[ChrisCdotcodotuk]

So it seems I've got a common problem that I wasn't aware of until I test drove a new car for a few days. I got back into my Volvo and realised that the brake judder at speed was really annoying me so I thought I'd try and burn off any contaminants from the disc by doing 10 or so progressively harder stops.

The judder at speed seems to have gone but now I just notice how poor the brakes are.

It's a 2008 V50 D5 with the larger brake system and I always thought the brakes were "okay". Nothing special but okay. Now I'm starting to wonder if they really are okay.

Parked up, engine off and pump the pedal. Rock hard. Not a bit of movement.

Fire up the engine and you can build pressure but if you apply moderate force on the brake pedal with the engine running the pedal will slowly move towards the floor. It doesn't appear to go all the way down but it does slowly creep in.

I'm thinking of getting the car up on stands and having a proper look at it soon as the brakes do not fill me with confidence. I was thinking of PX'ing the other car and keeping the volvo but this brake issue might be costly.

Any tips? Anything to look out for?

I dont have a bleeding kit and I've never bled the brakes (in years. seriously the fluid hasn't been changed in many years).

[LizardOfBodom]

Originally Posted by ChrisCdotcodotuk

Fire up the engine and you can build pressure but if you apply moderate force on the brake pedal with the engine running the pedal will slowly move towards the floor. It doesn't appear to go all the way down but it does slowly creep in.

Hi
Not sure if I understood you correctly but maybe its the same as in my car. When engine is running and car is on standstill, when I press brake pedal (pretty hard) and keep the pressure on it, it will "creep" to the bottom aswell. That supposedly is completely normal as its part of the brake-force-assist system that basically apply full braking force in event of emergency braking (when you suddendly full-brake while driving like to perform emergency stop, you can feel brake pedal falling to the floor in its own to apply max braking power). Again - not sure if thats whats you describing but if it is, its normal.

[ChrisCdotcodotuk]

Originally Posted by LizardOfBodom

Hi
Not sure if I understood you correctly but maybe its the same as in my car. When engine is running and car is on standstill, when I press brake pedal (pretty hard) and keep the pressure on it, it will "creep" to the bottom aswell. That supposedly is completely normal as its part of the brake-force-assist system that basically apply full braking force in event of emergency braking (when you suddendly full-brake while driving like to perform emergency stop, you can feel brake pedal falling to the floor in its own to apply max braking power). Again - not sure if thats whats you describing but if it is, its normal.

Okay thanks for the quick reply YES that is what I was describing.
Sat there engine off, pump and it goes rock solid.
Sat there engine on, pump it goes hard, keep applying pressure and it'll gradually creep down. Pump once more and it goes hard again.

I think the test drive car just had REALLY good brakes and its made me question what I've got - it was a 2017 335D X-Drive with the sport brake package.

[iainmd]

My old T5 used to do that. Break to a point and the pedal would travel but then slowly travel further for the same braking effect. When I replaced all brake hoses with HEL braided brake lines it went away.

In my case it appeared to be attributable to degraded brake lines.

[LizardOfBodom]

Originally Posted by iainmd

My old T5 used to do that. Break to a point and the pedal would travel but then slowly travel further for the same braking effect. When I replaced all brake hoses with HEL braided brake lines it went away.

In my case it appeared to be attributable to degraded brake lines.

Hmm, thats interesting. I have Black Diamond braided lines, put in the car over year ago along with fresh ATE200 fluid and the "issue" hasnt changed a bit. Always thought its "supposed to work like that"...