Hi guys,

I picked up my car yesterday (a 2017 AU SDV8) and it drives brilliantly but for one oddity, there seems to be about 2 inches of brake travel before they start to work, it’s drivable but I’m not sure that’s right. The rear brake lines were replaced by the dealership after its multipoint and I’m wondering if there might be air in them? What do your brakes feel like? Is this normal?

Thanks

Jon

Hi Jon, congratulations on your new Range Rover

I test drove a 2017 4.4 recently and first thoughts were that the brake pedal seemed to have excessive travel and lack of “bite” from the brakes in general. In fact substantially poorer than my old L322. However on checking the car over I found the front pads and discs were very worn indeed so put this down to needing replacements.

Worth visual checking condition of the discs on yours as it’s surprising what can slip through the AUC checks!

Given that yours has had work on the system then air in the system could be the issue. Worth checking fluid level just in case it’s not been topped up correctly.

Brakes shouldn’t feel how you describe though, in my opinion.

Really interested to hear your views on the car as I’m looking at upgrading in the near future.

Regards.

Dave. Current
2016 MY L405 SDV8
2018 VW Golf GT EVO
Previous
2002 L322 TD6
2004 Mercedes R230 SL350
1994 993 Carrera
Range Rover P38 x3
Range Rover 3.9 EFI

I may of been exaggerating a little after driving it this morning I think it’s really about an inch before the brakes kick in, the brakes are then quite progressive.

My dad has the L322 (3.6) which I loved so much that I bought the L405. I have to say that it’s an impressive piece of kit, I took the A9 (boring road) and it wafted up perfectly but I was taken by surprise by just how well it drives when I got to the twisty B roads, nothing that big should be that composed

J

It's hard to say without driving your car, but my experience with RRs other than my 405 has been that the brakes have quite a powerful feel from new and then gradually get a bit softer, with more travel. On the 405 however I thought there was more travel and a sense of "nothing much happening", but if you braked harder they worked fine. So that is maybe just the way they are. Ideally you'd try another one for comparison, but maybe not practical with lockdown, where you live etc. Only Range Rovers since 1988

Excessively long pedal can be caused by a number of things, The three I'd check though are:

1) Pad knock - this is where the pads get pushed back away from the discs, usually caused by warped discs or wheel bearing play / failure.
2) Air in the brake hydraulic system
3) Incorrect rod adjustment between pedal and master cylinder
Failing master cylinder

Do the brakes judder at all when applied - that'd be a sure sign of (1) above.

Hope this helps,

Jon 1992 RR Classic 3.9 efi Vogue
===================
Both my fatties now gone...
Previous: 2011 L322 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE /// 2002 L322 4.4 V8 HSE /// 2009 Discovery 3 2.7 TDV6 XS /// 2004 Defender 90 TD5 /// 1993 110 V8 Snatch Landrover /// 2005 Discovery 3 2.7 TDV6 SE (Aus) /// 1990 110 Isuzu 3.9 County (Aus) /// 1976 Series III Trayback (Aus)

if the brake lines were replaced then i suspect that they wer'nt bled fully.. ... - .- -.




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CS, what you described is exactly how it feels, nothing at first but give it a push and it brakes fine. A friend who works in a dealership tells me an in inch of travel with nothing is perfectly normal....🤷‍♂️ The wife doesn’t seem bothered (ooh matron!) maybe it’s just my paranoia



Jon

You may get a touch more travel till the pads bed in, once they’ve done 100 miles or so they generally improve.
Also if your front pads are getting worn replacing them could make all the difference. Just done mine and the pedal is much better with improved bite to the brakes too now they’ve bedded in.

Congratulations on your new motor too, you’ll love it