P38 Brake failure timely reminder

Is there any way to determine if your car has already had the modification installed, as I have only had the P38 for a year now and have no history on the work performed on it in its previous life? I have on two occassions, had a strange brake reaction when the car has been first started up and felt like a bit of a fade and shudder. There was no further brake issue after further driving and I do not think it was ABS as the break pressure used at the time was only moderate at most. All fluids are at correct level.

If the previous owner only had it serviced by a mechanic, it is unlikely to have had the modification. I could be wrong, but most people who have installed the modification have been owners who have done it themselves using the instructions provided.

I asked my mechanic to remove the modulator for me and I then took it home and did the fix on the internals and took it back to him to reinstall.

The mod is very easy to do, I just wasn't confident pulling it out of the car myself.

Dave

Sorry to those involved with the accident, but thank godness no one was hurt. RR's can be replaced, people not so easy. As others have said timely reminder to fix it before it fails, in this case as others very little warning from brakes working to nothing.
Regards Russell.

Ouch, thats a decent hit. Glad to hear all got out fine.

Was there any warning that the brakes were failing? Is it intermitant?

ps, I have all the parts you need, including the chassis crumple zone (i bet you a 6 pack it is bent), just pm me when you are ready.


Andy

Thanks for all the positive posts, good to have such good support through the LR community. Paul I have sent you a PM and thanks for your help. Panel beater has looked at it and reckons the chassis hasn't been touched at all, must be why the air bags didn't go off. So looks like its just the radiator and panel work to be replaced, oh yeh and probably the brake unit if the internals have bent. Thanks Andrew we may be in touch yet. It only gave the odd feeling to my wife the night before and she said it felt like a flat tyre, then it was fine again until it failed with no warning.
I am definitely doing the brake mod on my P38 now and can reccommend anyone else to contact Paul at Hard Range to do the same.
Thanks again everyone

Shano

Ouch! Glad everyone was ok, pity about the damage though.
Is this an issue with all P38's or just certain years?
I have not heard about this before.

Sorry Peter don't have an answer, just another question...

do we know is there anyone out there doing the brake modulator kit as an exchange item (ie. they have a refurbished one to send you on purchase and you then return your one to them).

Not that I am being slack, (I will do it at some point) but if it reduces the time to fix the problem with out a massive hourly rate being involved (my last repair bill had the mechanic charged out at $110 an hour), it could help out the busier folk amongst us.

P.S. PaulP38A, what exactly does the buyer get in the fix kit you are selling and how much is it?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DT-P38

Sorry Peter don't have an answer, just another question...

do we know is there anyone out there doing the brake modulator kit as an exchange item (ie. they have a refurbished one to send you on purchase and you then return your one to them).

Not that I am being slack, (I will do it at some point) but if it reduces the time to fix the problem with out a massive hourly rate being involved (my last repair bill had the mechanic charged out at $110 an hour), it could help out the busier folk amongst us.

---

What timing Dave!... We are in negotiations with a very reputable repairer of these units to offer such a service. We need to get a couple of kits made up first and work out a fair change-over price so all involved get a good outcome.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DT-P38

P.S. PaulP38A, what exactly does the buyer get in the fix kit you are selling and how much is it?

---

The kit includes the stainless steel locating washers and replacement o-rings for the piston and plunger, plus instructions in DOC and PDF format on CD. If you don't have a CD drive, I can supply them on a USB stick instead.

They sell for $110 inc GST plus postage, but since you mentioned it here and it is a significant safety concern, I will give them to AULRO members for $100 inc GST and free regular post anywhere in Aus. Please identify your AURLO name in the comment field of the order and I will adjust the invoice before requesting payment.

For the benefit of future owners of P38a's with the BMR kit installed, I'd like to see us mark the BM to state that the repair has been done.

Maybe this is an opportunity for Willem to sell me some stickers to include in the kit? as long as Russell agrees...

If I do this, I will send 1 sticker (just 1 for obvious reasons we don't need to discuss among friends) out to each person who has purchased the kit from me.

Cheers, Paul.

Hi Shano,
Did you get any of the brake warning lights coming on before the complete failure of the brakes or did this just happen? Bit of a worry if you don't get any warning at all, maybe I've missed something here, a previous post maybe, this eems quite bizarre if the brakes can just fail.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nomad9

Hi Shano,
Did you get any of the brake warning lights coming on before the complete failure of the brakes or did this just happen? Bit of a worry if you don't get any warning at all, maybe I've missed something here, a previous post maybe, this eems quite bizarre if the brakes can just fail.

---

If it's anything like my Mini Clubman, the warning light comes on to let you know the brakes have failed, not failing. As if hurtling down the street without being able to slow down was not enough of a warning, the little red light will confirm that you're boned ;)