Hello there, I’m trying to resolve an issue with my 2002 L322 Petrol. I had the front to rear brake lines replaced as they had corroded and split. The garage noted the rear callipers were not the best but had managed to bleed the braking system.

When moving to the lakes, my wife drove the car up and commented the brakes were awful and they never used to be.

Here’s the symptoms. Driving forwards, the pedal is very firm to press but it doesn’t feel like the brakes are biting. In reverse, the brakes bite really well and stop very effectively as expected.

I have replaced the rear callipers and bled the whole system. I have checked the servo hoses for cracks etc.. none present.

I checked the front callipers for operation with a wheel off and all seems well, even treated it to some genuine front pads whilst in there.

Any pointers on things to check will be appreciated.

Thanks 👍 2002 L322 4.4V8 - G4 Challenge Car - Australia leg
2003 Defender G4 110
2008 Discovery 3 G4
2009 Defender 90
1968 Series 2a

Servo hoses checked..How's the servo sounding when you check that?
From your description this sounds like there's little or no servo assistance/ diaphragm issues. L405 2014 SDV8 4.4 Autobiography
Corris Grey
Previously 2011 D4 SDV6 HSE Santorini

Thanks for the reply.

Come to think of it, there is no servo noise/hiss/squeak. Below is a picture of the servo…

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

If you disconnect and plug the servo vac pipe (so there isn't a vac leak into the engine) you could / should be able to detect a difference in the pedal feel. Stationary, not moving! No change? Suspect servo.

Chris

Cheers Chris, I shall give that a whirl and report back. 2002 L322 4.4V8 - G4 Challenge Car - Australia leg
2003 Defender G4 110
2008 Discovery 3 G4
2009 Defender 90
1968 Series 2a

I pulled the vac feed into the servo and started the car, the pedal was noticeably firmer and harder to stop the car at even idle speed! The vac pipe was definitely sucking well! Pushed it back in and re-tried the brakes and better than without the hose removed but no better than when I started.
Guess this rules out the servo for now?

I’ll loom again at the front brake lines and hoses and maybe run the gap abs tests on the front brakes 2002 L322 4.4V8 - G4 Challenge Car - Australia leg
2003 Defender G4 110
2008 Discovery 3 G4
2009 Defender 90
1968 Series 2a

Puzzling!

Long shot, but you say you swapped the pads for genuine ones. They may require bedding in. They may have glazed due to gentle use in the new pads early life. A race car type bedding in procedure might help. Can't hurt it. Involves a series of increasingly heavy stops from increasingly higher speeds until be brakes are more or less smoking hot.

Chris

To check the servo
Press the brake pedal several times with the engine stopped
This will get rid of any vacuum in the system
Press the brake peddle hard and keep it pressed
Start the engine
The pedal should go down further
If it doesn’t, the servo isn’t working RR 2005 4.4 petrol
Any spelling mistakes are the fault of spellchecker
Previous MG J2, CITROEN light 15 x 2 gone unfortunately
Present MERC 180e, RANGE ROVER L322, JAGUAR XJS, MERC 280SE, MG F, JAGUAR S-Type 6v 2003, jaguar s-type 8v 2004, Ford Cougar

So, I decided to take the car for its MOT test as my thinking was I can bed pads in en route and if it fails, its in a place with trained mechanics… Braking effort was still hard but on a big down hill when I stamped on the pedal, it sank to the floor then ABS kicked in with a judder. Lifting the pedal and reapplying pressure gave a firm pedal again and some braking.
I’m pleased to say it passed the MOT but the tester did note its not braking like it should, however his diagnosis is lack of use and sticky Caliper pistons on the front. Driving home, I kept braking more than usual and by the time I got home, pedal feel was better and the pads seem to be bedding in too.
So, I’ll get some calipers ordered up.

The initial MOT was a fail due to a seized lower arm ball joint which thankfully the garage tackled whilst it was there cheaply enough.

I’ve even taxed it now and will use it more to see how it behaves… watch this space and thanks for all the suggestions. 2002 L322 4.4V8 - G4 Challenge Car - Australia leg
2003 Defender G4 110
2008 Discovery 3 G4
2009 Defender 90
1968 Series 2a

Update on the brakes, the pads are bedding after a run up to Carlisle for decorating supplies.
Pedal feel is better, car is stopping but a new set of callipers will be going on to rule existing ones out. 2002 L322 4.4V8 - G4 Challenge Car - Australia leg
2003 Defender G4 110
2008 Discovery 3 G4
2009 Defender 90
1968 Series 2a