Alarming brake fade on TRW dtec low dust brake pads
Fitted the TRW dtec low dust brake pads not too long ago and after the initial bedding in I have been very happy with there performance and low dust but yesterday driving home from north Wales I had a very scary moment I was towing a trailer that is un braked and weighs about 450k with the bits in at a guess, I had been traveling from Llangernyw to Bodelwyddan Castle there are some hills but nothing to steep and I was using the engine to help slow us down coming down the road that runs towards the A55 I was going at roughly 50 and started to use the brakes to gently slow down as there was trafic up ahead then when I got to 30 nothing the brakes just went, the pedal went soft and even after releasing and pumping nothing happened, I had a moment where I thought I was going to have to pull the handbrake but dropped it into command shift and manually dropped the gears this slowed me enough and allowed the brakes to cool a little just enough to stop me in a layby, when stopped I pulled the handbrake the smell in the car was a terrible burnt smell I got out and all the wheels were very hot, I left to cool then set off and once the brakes had cooled down I had no more problems has anyone else had similar with this make of pads, the old pads never did this and the brake fluid was changed about a year ago, are the pads now ruineddue to what happened should I be looking at new brake fluid I'm just glad I wasn't in the mountains as the outcome could have been much worseRange Rover Westminster 4.4 TDV8 what a car
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23rd Apr 2017 7:02 pm
defector
Member Since: 23 Feb 2009
Location: Greater Manchester
Posts: 1419
Pedal going soft usually implies brake fluid problem.
Pedal staying hard but little retardation would imply brake pads overheating leading to brake fade.
Check to see disc rotors are clear (sandwich section where air flows through).
23rd Apr 2017 7:16 pm
hugeviking
Member Since: 08 Jun 2010
Location: cotswolds
Posts: 1482
An obvious question is has your car had the brake recall mod, however that wouldn't explain hot brakes.
I have had these TRW Dtec pads now for over a year with no fade issues.Defender 300Tdi 110 HCP - Keswick Green
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23rd Apr 2017 8:43 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
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Fade is a function of heat so the problem is with the discs/rotors not shedding the heat quickly enough - it is not the pads as clearly they have done their bit by turning the vehicle energy into heat.
Not exactly an unknown issue with diesel D3 brakes!
The fix is to fit bigger discs. The pads you have are the best standard size pads out there.
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8069
Sounds more like brake fluid boiling to me!- usually caused by a combination of old or contaminated brake fluid, brakes binding and excessive braking, it could also be a good reason to upgrade to V8 or D4 brakes if you are making this trip often.It can when others can't,
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23rd Apr 2017 8:56 pm
nearlee
Member Since: 15 Dec 2012
Location: where the sheep are scared
Posts: 1777
I know that road, and even on standard brakes you shouldn't get fade.
Some of the issues mentioned should be looked at as there is something definatly wrong in your braking systemJust remember:-
Amateurs built the Ark
Professionals built the titanic
Thanks for all the replies I think I will start with renewing the brake fluid even though it's only a year or so old, the disks were cleaned of all the hardened brake dust when I replaced the pads but once these pads have worn out I will be upgrading to the V8 brakes as I tow a lot now and with the car full of kids and the dog I think it's well worth the upgradeRange Rover Westminster 4.4 TDV8 what a car
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24th Apr 2017 8:04 am
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
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You mentioned 450kg or so of unbraked trailer, how many vehicle passengers and luggage were on top of that?
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
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Why wait for the pads to wear down before upgrading to the V8 discs? Surely your family's safety is worth more than saving a few quid.
I used to tow a lot and the V8 upgrade was defiantly worth it. New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!)
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You mentioned 450kg or so of unbraked trailer, how many vehicle passengers and luggage were on top of that?
2 adults 2 children 1 45k dogRange Rover Westminster 4.4 TDV8 what a car
Discovery 3 HSE 2006 gone but never forgotten
Member of the 234,567 mile club😎
Why wait for the pads to wear down before upgrading to the V8 discs? Surely your family's safety is worth more than saving a few quid.
I used to tow a lot and the V8 upgrade was defiantly worth it.
I'm thinking its the only way forward I will first bleed the brakes again just to remove the fluid in the calipers and pipes closest that would have been super heated as I have a lot of driving without trailer this week am I correct that the v8 upgrade is bigger disks and a replacement carrier but the calipers and pads are the same,
One last thing I have both a preasurised brake bleading sytem and an iid tool which would be best as I will be doing it on my own
Thanks again for all the repliesRange Rover Westminster 4.4 TDV8 what a car
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24th Apr 2017 11:37 am
trainmanone
Member Since: 19 Dec 2014
Location: stockport
Posts: 366
has your disco had the p017 brake vacuum assist system recall done ??????
just received an email from jlr csm after enquiring about mine 2005 d3 hse and it hasn't been done !!!!!
so getting in touch with main dealer about it hope its free lol
the brakes have had the recall done before I got the carRange Rover Westminster 4.4 TDV8 what a car
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24th Apr 2017 12:03 pm
M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8069
ISTR 450k is well over the legal limit for an unbraked trailer and if there was an incident you could find yourself with further problems.It can when others can't,
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