[s-cars] Re: S4/S6 brakes

[William Noland]

As others have mentioned, the rear brake calipers will tend to sieze up over time. If
you're replacing the rear pads regularly, the calipers are not releasing and are in
need of a rebuild. Bleeding the S4/S6 brakes is tricky, too. There is a kink in the
left (driver's) side brake line, that tends to trap air bubbles. Takes a thorough
bleeding to get the air out.

Bill Noland


> OK... I promise not to rant about the bad brakes.   But I would like some
> help.
>
> I think my car has unusually bad brakes.   I am not looking for brakes for
> the race track.  I just want ordinary brakes like I find in any average car.
>
> Here are the symtoms.
> Pedal feels muddy
> There seems to be a slight delay when applying the brakes (occasionally
> almost causing me to rear someone)
> It takes extra pedal pressure to stop the car
>
> but...
> If I slam on the brakes, the anti-lock works (if needed) and the car will
> stop just as well as any other car..using medium pedal pressure.
>
> Other data points:
> Changing the front pads with new ones makes almost no difference at all.
> Changing the rear pads will give me back great brakes, but only for a week
> or so while they wear in.   Then I am left with shitty brakes again.
>
> I almost feel like the master cylinder is defective.   maybe it engages the
> rear first and wears them out, leaving me with glazed rear pads.
>
> Do any of the symptoms above sound familiar?   Is this what others
> complained about leading to bigger calipers and rotors?