Poor braking on my Bongo

[PeterRayner]

I have a 1995 WL-T Bongo which recently passed the MOT but the brakes are hopeless when going forward; an 'emergency stop' is out of the question BUT the brakes are very 'sharp' at slow speed in reverse. I do have the Workshop Manual but wondered if you can shed any light on this weird problem and suggest what may be the cause. (My garage owner says that 50% efficiency of the brakes will result in a Pass!).

Many thanks

Peter Rayner

Member No. 14091

[helen&tony]

Hi
Can you elucidate?...for example, is there excessive pedal travel, sponginess in the pedal, pressure which fades if you maintain your foot on the pedal, initial braking and fading?...It might be easier to diagnose with a description, as it could be anything from oil on the discs to air in the system, partially siezed calipers...etc. etc.
Cheers
Helen

[winchman]

Hello Peter
Has it always been like this?
Unless you know what you are doing get a garage to fix it or some one who knows how to assist and show you.
Look at the history
Any components changed recently?
This can happen when new pads are fitted to old marked discs.
If you pump the pedal will it improve?
if so I would check for air in the brakes first.
Flexi hose condition, get some one to press as hard as possible whilst you inspect the hoses, look for them bulging / weeping.
We need a bit more symptoms / history
One interesting thing I have found with one of my other cars is if I fit Ferrodo Premier pads the brakes are far better so worth the extra £5, not sure if they do them for Bongos though?

[Northern Bongolow]

is it a manual box or auto, if manual it shares the same fluid res clutch and brakes.
could be master cylinder or old fluid or servo fault. is the fluid level good.