My fuel consumption has been suffering in silence for quite some time now. I used to regularly see 30MPG+ when taking it easy, but this has been consigned to history for much of the last year with results at a more sober 20-22MPG and only 400 mils from a tank rather than 500+...........until now
I just had my front brake pads changed and it was noted by the mechanic that the pads showed signs of being seized at some point. Ive just done a few miles since but my LCD is already hitting 31.7MPG.
I had put the reduction in economy down to my less careful use of the right foot, but I was getting concerned when after trying hard to drive nicely, the best I could do was 25.6MPG.
There have been a good number of people posting about poor fuel consumption figures. May I suggest to these people that they get their brakes checked. I had no obvious signs of problems and not even a squeak from the front pads. But it looks like they have been holding me back for some time now. The older I get, the more I realise that people confuse wrinkles for wisdom
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11th Jan 2008 12:58 am
Disco_Mikey
Member Since: 29 May 2007
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Posts: 20727
The inner front and rear pads usually seize up, because in their infinite wisdom, LR put the puts the pads in with no grease, so they seize up rather quickly...
Which is also why the outer pads wears so muc hquicker than the inner pads
11th Jan 2008 8:17 am
Bill Wright
Member Since: 03 Nov 2007
Location: Glorious Devon
Posts: 3254
DiscoMikey
Where should the pads be greased? Is it between the calliper rams and the back of the pad? I'm getting pretty gash mileage and maybe it's because of binding brake pads. I'd like to strip the system down at the weekend and have a dekko.
Cheer
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11th Jan 2008 9:43 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
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How can you tell if they are binding?? I don't have the facilities to put the car on a ramp & try and turn the wheels. JMC who fitted your pads or were they the original pads??
Last edited by DSL on 11th Jan 2008 5:12 pm. Edited 1 time in total
How can you tell......... Well, when your start seeing 400 miles out of a tank rather than 500 you know something aint right The older I get, the more I realise that people confuse wrinkles for wisdom
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11th Jan 2008 12:05 pm
ThatMartinChap
Member Since: 06 Nov 2007
Location: Deepest Darkest Berkshire
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surely you would feel some heat in your front wheels arfter driving any distance ? I had siezed brakes years ago (on my first car) adn the wheels almost glowed after driving for a few miles.
11th Jan 2008 12:08 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
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Might be a coincidence but looked at the graph of mpg and it does get better immediately after the front disc & pads were changes (under warranty) at the 1st service. Thought it might just be the new oil etc & the engine loosening up.
11th Jan 2008 12:10 pm
SPOTTER
Member Since: 06 Dec 2006
Location: Adrift........
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.........cheers JMC, on the phone to service manager as I have been complaining about lost 100 miles of range to him for a couple of months now......... end of an era ....... maybe a Defender when it appears.......
I can see my Takla and axle stands may be getting some use as soon as this wet weather takes a break
Cheers JMC I know it's not considered "kind" to say no these days, but no. Just no, ok? And if it's not ok, still no.
11th Jan 2008 12:39 pm
Bodsy Site Sponsor
Member Since: 06 Nov 2006
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only ever managed (almost) 500 miles once......
Generally get about 400 between fills....
It's in for it's first sevice today, so I'll have to see if there's anything that comes back any different. Hadn't thought of it as a potential issue til I read this.
But it freewheels in neutral ok, so hadn't noticed anything stuck on....Bodsys Brake Bible
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11th Jan 2008 12:56 pm
ThatMartinChap
Member Since: 06 Nov 2007
Location: Deepest Darkest Berkshire
Posts: 696
I suspect that its not stuck fully on but just enough to casue a small amount of drag.
11th Jan 2008 1:11 pm
SPOTTER
Member Since: 06 Dec 2006
Location: Adrift........
Posts: 3095
interesting that, mine doesn't free wheeel, put it in neutral at slow speed even on a slight downward slope and it stops nearly instantly whereas my defender used to roll form rest on the same slope!!end of an era ....... maybe a Defender when it appears.......
11th Jan 2008 1:15 pm
John C
Member Since: 28 Aug 2007
Location: East Yorkshire
Posts: 3292
ThatMartinChap wrote:
surely you would feel some heat in your front wheels arfter driving any distance ? I had siezed brakes years ago (on my first car) adn the wheels almost glowed after driving for a few miles.
Yes, you could fry an egg on my D2 wheels (assuming the car was on its side ) when the calipers stuck even slightly on my D2.
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I suspect that its not stuck fully-on but just enough to cause a small amount of drag.
Correct. Difficult to diagnose as it would still free-wheel, just not as well as it probably should. Even a small amount of drag can have a significant effect on the fuel economy. As for wheels glowing red in the dark - we are not talking about this level of brake seizure.
Quite some time ago I had a rear pad disintegrate and this was noticeable from the squeak.
Between the reduced miles-per-tank and the reduced MPG figure on the LCD, I'm having an educated guess at a 20% reduction in fuel economy which is borne out by both figures. I'll be keeping a closer eye on the pads from now on...... The older I get, the more I realise that people confuse wrinkles for wisdom
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11th Jan 2008 1:55 pm
Disco_Mikey
Member Since: 29 May 2007
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Posts: 20727
Bill Wright wrote:
DiscoMikey
Where should the pads be greased? Is it between the calliper rams and the back of the pad? I'm getting pretty gash mileage and maybe it's because of binding brake pads. I'd like to strip the system down at the weekend and have a dekko.
Cheer
BW
They should be greased on the 'lugs' that stick out the side of the pads. You will probably find too, that the dirt and rust has got under the metal clips that hold the pads in place. Remove these and file or wire brush the carriers, clean the metal clips, clean the ends of the pads, grease the pads, and rebuild. Pretty easy once you have done it once
Just a word of warning, DONT get any grease on the friction surface of the pads or discs, otherwise you will have no brakes...
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I used to regularly see 30MPG+ when taking it easy, but this has been consigned to history for much of the last year with results at a more sober 20-22MPG and only 400 mils from a tank rather than 500+...........until now 
) when the calipers stuck even slightly on my D2.
