Service brake balancing

[hypersound]

Recently took a 93 Corona for a WOF but failed due to unbalanced service brakes. WOF sheet indicates that the percentage at the rear wheels were not balanced enough.

What could be the possible reasons or fixes for this?

Any idea on cost should I need to take it to a mechanic?

[Bling]

so, after 2 years, does anyone know yet?



just failed for this very reason myself apart from having a slow puncture, i'm not sure what it could be, so will strip the rear brakes and check pads.....

has anyone had this same problem at WOF time, fixes?

[Santa'sBoostinSleigh]

sometimes a caliper can be siezed or stiff
or bung pads
or maybe bleed brakes?

[fangsport]

scuff the drum/disc that is reading low and do the same with the pads.

bleed then get re-checked. works a treat but dosn't cure the fact that the piston (for discs) , or adjusters (for drum) are sticking/siezed.

[Bling]

cheers for that, will try the above in the weekend

Haven't done anything to the brakes on my car since owning it (bad i know, just laziness as they work... )

when you say bleed, is this adding more fluid and bleeding any possible air in the brakes... or something else?

Last time i checked the pads seemed at least 50% in exisitance...

[bluemaumau]

bahahahaha at fangsports sig, awesome man

[Punter]

Drums or disks on the back?, I had a car fail on unbalanced rear brakes (drums) and I couln't fix it, there was nothing wrong with it.

In the end the guy felt sorry for me (after 4 retests) and just passed it.

Morel of the story - Don't go to vtnz for a warrent.

[MrOizo]

Morel of the story - Don't go to vtnz for a warrent.

Or any where with old cnuts with white/blue coats that havent yet caught on to the concept of EFI damn they annoy me!

[Bling]

discs front/rear

probably about time I replaced all the pads, and fluid.... but an easy fix is what i'm after right now, so will take the pads out and scuff them and the discs up and see how i go i guess

[2LTR Rona]

it could be something as simple as a rather small stone wedged between the pad & dics, not allowing it to slot home correctly, have seen this before, a couple of weekends ago in fact, mates Camry was failed for exactly same thing, removed pad, removed stone, major difference

or as others have said siezed caliper etc

[Ae92typeX]

was it the rear brakes alltogether that failed or just the handbrake? (just checking) - this will help point to areas of possibility also

[Bling]

hand brake was sweet he said, had the hand brake adjusted a couple months back, could this be related?

so to answer your question, its just that the rear braking balance is out

[Lloyd]

If the handbrake is fine then its not going to be an issue with the pads/rotors. If they were a problem then you'd have the balance showing up on both hand and foot brake. With it being only on the foot brake it points to an issue on the hydraulic side of things such as a sticky caliper

[Bling]

Actually I made a mistake, he told me handbrake was fine, but after rechecking the WOF sheet I found the following: (my bad )


heres the readings:

service brake reading:
0% LF 200 RF 200
38% LR 120 RR 70

service brake balance: fail

parking brake reading:
56% LH 100 RH 40

parking brake performance: fail



and after decyfering his writing, i think it sais I need to improve and equalise rear foot + h brake..


does this info change anyones general opinions as to problems in my brakes?

[Ae92typeX]

well, as you say above then, checking and scuffing pads is first step. there could be contamination on the disc- be it oil, or a leaky caliper. In which case you have to rectify that and replace the pads.
If all looks ok, scuff it up, ensure all tyres are of even pressure and take it in on a dry day (if possible).
I have been failed in the past for uneven. The car had been through a huge puddle on one side just as it entered. They didnt push the brake first to clear the water and it caused just enough unbalance to fail. Low pressure on one side will also make a difference in measurements.

[Bling]

yeah scuffed th pads and rotor then took back for re-test, passed, so all good now...

cheers for all the info.... I think the only reason I had a problem in the first place is that I took it for WOF the day of the big snow.

[Ae92typeX]

sounds like a probably cause. good news it was no major for ya anyway

[Bling]

yeah good to get that out the way,

CV boots next, currently in the "I really dont want to do that" basket, have the kits, just not the motivation, KP gets all my spare time