Thread: TD5 defender brake issue

Check the system for a leak somewhere,doesn't have to leak very much.Check for moisture at the mastercylinder,may have to move master from booster to check.Check for moisture at brake hoses and calipers.
Check for moisture at the bottom of the proportioning valve(brake pressure valve).Check for leaks at the ABS modulator.

Wayne

Maybe a bit of grit in seal of master cylinder or slave cylinder. Master and slave need re-sealing or replacing.

Have a critical look at wheel bearings.

Had a similiar problem a while ago - occasionally (partic. after travelling on rough roads) needed 2 pumps to get brakes - and turned out to be a dodgy inside front wheel bearing causing the discs to wobble a bit and then pistons pushed back in further and took 2 pumps to get brakes.

Only nutted this out after replacing the master cylinder of course.

Mine is an 04 defender without ABS

alanw

I must admit to having initially thought it was the mastercylinder fluid maybe bypassing the seal, but not so sure now. There was no fluid leaks after a quick inspection, but a more thorough inspection I think is required on the weekend.
The wheel bearing issue is a first for me, but coming from a 2A to a Defender, I guess it's all a completely different kettle of fish somewhat.
Just on the master cylinder, given that mine is an ABS system, the price jumps from $250 to $450. WTF!
Is resleeving or a kit still a viable option if indeed it is the master cylinder?

Checked the wheel bearings this afternoon, and found the front left to have a little bit of slop in it and the other 3 were ok.
How much slop will cause the brake issue? And will it happen with play in just one bearing?

Cheers.

When I had my problem it was only 1 front wheel which had play - and it was only the inside bearing which had a fault - and the problem with the inside bearing was much worse than the movement in the front wheel would have suggested.. All other bearings were OK.

Have you removed bearings to check? or just checked for wheel movement?

Not sure I can answer how much play is a problem. My problem only occurred occasionally and was noticable only after a lot of travel on rough roads - usually when slowing down for a ramp or some other thing.

It was a bit strange as the brakes worked as normal on the 2nd pump. Not at all spongy or soft. And no visible leaks and no loss of fluid - so my first guess was fluid occassionally bypassing the plunger in the mastercylinder. But I was wrong.

alanw