Intermittent problem on my V40 1.9D, normal driving and braking is no problem, i press the brake pedal and it moves about 30mm and i can feel the brakes biting as i press, No problem.

Other times when i press them they start to bite immediately i press the pedal 10mm slowing down the car , then the pedal will drop the extra 20mm and they are back to normal.

Ive not had the car long, and it has had new pads and calipers on the back and 12months MOT before i got her, so not sure what it was like before.

Any ideas, greatly appreciated.

PS, o so impressed with the cars performance and economy.

 

Maybe there is air in the lines.

 

I did think of that but the pedal is not spongy in any way, when it happens it feels notchy, it feels more mechanical rather than hydraulic.

 

It is possible but I would try to bleed it first.
Also the brake vacuum pump might not be working correctly.

 

My v40 (2002) has always done this, but only when I start braking to quickly slow down from high speed and also when braking on a high speed curve.

Dealer found nothing wrong; said it was the "Electronic Brake Force Distribution" system working (check your manual).

Braking effectiveness has never been a problem when this happens.... it's almost as if the car just doesn't want me stomping the brakes.

Tech; what do you think?

 

Mine happens at low speeds and when only touching the pedal, i know when it is going to happen as the pedal is noticeably higher, brake effectiveness is no different either way.

 

So you're saying the pedal is already higher when this happens? Is it maybe that it isn't coming up all the way from the previous brake application?

 

Yes the pedal bite is higher than normal, then it drops back to its normal level. the pedal travel is not the issue, its the position where it bites thats the problem, most of the time there is no problem but every so often the bite point is 25mm higher then drops back to normal height.

Throughout this brake efficiency is not a concern.

 

Yeah, that sounds just like mine..... like the pedal is real hard when you go to press it and after a half second or so, it drops down like normal.

 

Yep, you got it, do Volvo really say its supposed to do that, seems a bit weird to me.