V70: Wheels/Brakes 2014 D5 brake pedal travel/feel

[jamesmark]

Hi

I bought my V70 in May and on the test drive I never really noticed the way the brake pedal feels. The brake pads were changed as part of the pre sale checks, but I feel there is a lot of travel in the brake pedal before I get a positive feel, they feel spongy.

The car stops etc, the garage says pads need to bed in, I got my usual mechanic to test drive the car and he feels the travel too but nothing to be concerned about.

Is this characteristic of the V70? Compared to my V50 that I had, those brakes were very good and positive feel.

Posted this in P2 V70 in error, a kind member suggested retainer springs.

[jamesmark]

Additionally was thinking about going to another dealership to test drive a similar spec car to compare, but can imagine them not to be forth coming as no sale.

Unless there is a member located in South Yorkshire, Doncaster/Barnsley area that i could meet up?

[Tatsfield]

While you may has a problem with air in the hydraulics causing the sponginess, I can say that in a previous car of which I had several versions, the last car had a full electronic braking stability system with its own power pump and the first thing I noticed when driving it was how spongy the brakes felt compared to the earlier model which just had a simple vacuum servo system. I was convinced that the car was faulty but over the years I adjusted my braking technique to input very little pressure on the pedal and let the system do the braking, which it did exceedingly well. When I came to my XC70 I didn't notice any difference so can only assume that the pedal is as spongy as my last car and my braking technique is now suited to it. This is not to say that your car hasn't got a brake fault and it shouldn't be thoroughly checked out, but it may just be a characteristic of the design offering gentle braking action rather than the harsher feel which which you may have become accustomed.

[jamesmark]

Originally Posted by Tatsfield

While you may has a problem with air in the hydraulics causing the sponginess, I can say that in a previous car of which I had several versions, the last car had a full electronic braking stability system with its own power pump and the first thing I noticed when driving it was how spongy the brakes felt compared to the earlier model which just had a simple vacuum servo system. I was convinced that the car was faulty but over the years I adjusted my braking technique to input very little pressure on the pedal and let the system do the braking, which it did exceedingly well. When I came to my XC70 I didn't notice any difference so can only assume that the pedal is as spongy as my last car and my braking technique is now suited to it. This is not to say that your car hasn't got a brake fault and it shouldn't be thoroughly checked out, but it may just be a characteristic of the design offering gentle braking action rather than the harsher feel which which you may have become accustomed.

What you describe is exactly how I feel about the brakes. I have adapted to it, but best to get it checked

[Cubbington]

I'd agree with getting the brakes checked out, but am/was in the same boat as you and started a thread a few weeks ago, as I wanted to get all discs and pads replaced, which didn't happen in the end...

I've had both main dealer and independent tell me that the car feels fine to them, and it's a characteristic of the car.

I've got a great relationship with the independent and they told me I need to get used to it being a barge(!) after having driven more driver-focussed BMWs for the past 6 years.

Mine just went in to have the gearbox software updated today (which has transformed it), and I was given a brand new V40 with razor sharp brakes, which took a little while to adapt to, and when I picked the XC70 back up a little while ago, I almost didn't stop it pulling out of the dealership, using the tiny amount of travel I'd needed to stop the V40.

Adapt your driving style accordingly and you'll find it stops when it needs to :-)

Cheers,

Nick

[PEGE63]

Have to agree to this, got a new company car that is over assisted so very little effort to brake which takes some getting used to. Jumped into the V70 last week after not having driven it for a few weeks and it felt really weird. In some way having to push more and harder is not a bad thing as it then kind of relect what you want the car to do, light slow a little, push harder and you want it to stop faster. The over assited systems are too aggressive sometimes.