Poor brake performance on cold start (Std. VT II brakes)

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Originally Posted by Micks

Oughta know by now we can't diagnose someones vehicle over the net :lol: Though Ops problem goes away when the vehicle warms up & IMHO is pointing towards booster or vac line problem. But as always look forward to Op's solution & changing his 3yr old fluid too!

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Sure we can, we do it all the time lol. FWIW 3 year old fluid while not ideal, is not going to be the sole issue here. If the fluid were to contaminate that much in 3 years to notice an issue like this, there is something beyond normal hygroscopic properties causing the contamination that should be investigated beyond a simple fluid change.

I had some supposed heavy duty high performance "Ferrodo" brand pads in a car of mine many years ago
the things were absolutely dangerous until they got some heat in them, car wouldn't stop, just a really heavy pedal.

When they warmed up they were fantastic though & never seemed to fade on me.

I couldn't live with them though, much too dangerous cold.

As for brake fluid, I must confess one of my cars has fluid at least 10 years old in it!:hide:

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As for brake fluid, I must confess one of my cars has fluid at least 10 years old in it!

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You better get bleeding then mate :lol:

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Originally Posted by Micks

You better get bleeding then mate :lol:

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All in good time.....:lmao:

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Originally Posted by whitels1ss

All in good time.....:lmao:

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Can't rush these things ;)

Sounds like DS3000s... you wanted the 2500s ;)

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Originally Posted by whitels1ss

I had some supposed heavy duty high performance "Ferrodo" brand pads in a car of mine many years ago
the things were absolutely dangerous until they got some heat in them, car wouldn't stop, just a really heavy pedal.

When they warmed up they were fantastic though & never seemed to fade on me.

I couldn't live with them though, much too dangerous cold.

As for brake fluid, I must confess one of my cars has fluid at least 10 years old in it!:hide:

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My vote is for a faulty master cylinder.

Mine did the same thing, I'd be sitting at the lights and the peddle would slowly sink to the floor and would need a pump to get more pressure.
New master cylinder and good as new!

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Originally Posted by jc_sv8

My vote is for a faulty master cylinder.

Mine did the same thing, I'd be sitting at the lights and the peddle would slowly sink to the floor and would need a pump to get more pressure.
New master cylinder and good as new!

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"Pedal height retention" really easy test to perform, give it a couple of pumps to exhaust the Booster then load and hold the pedal, if it slowly sinks to the floor it's Master time...

Update:
Fluid has been replaced and found that the RH rear caliper slide was seized. Will give it a week or two of cold starts to see if the fluid replacement has fixed the problem.

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Originally Posted by VT_SS_II

Update:
Fluid has been replaced and found that the RH rear caliper slide was seized. Will give it a week or two of cold starts to see if the fluid replacement has fixed the problem.

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Good find but doubt that will give you softer pedal when cold as the caliper piston would be operational, rear brakes would be doing a mere 15% of your braking anyhow.

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Originally Posted by Micks

Good find but doubt that will give you softer pedal when cold as the caliper piston would be operational, rear brakes would be doing a mere 15% of your braking anyhow.

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Yeah that's my thought too. I suspect the old fluid was the source of my problems.