Hi everyone,

I know this topic has been covered before, but have read them and they didn't cover my scenario exactly so I thought I post anyway...

The rear calipers were on my wife's 2002 cooper were sticking to the point where it actually felt like you were driving with the handbrake on, so I bit the bullet and bought pair of recon calipers (from reputable company) and pair of new discs and pads. I remember reading somewhere that some people use a power bleeder to do the back brakes but felt this was optional not obligatory, so I fitted the new parts including new calipers to both sides and then bleed normally to finish the job. (During the fitment of the calipers I clamped the hoses each time to ensure no leakage of brake fluid and to ensure no air returned up the pipes)...

The up-shot of the completed job is a very nice set of brake components both side but way too much travel on the brake pedal... However before I did the job there was very little pedal travel.

When you press the pedal now, where it used to bite, it now starts to work slightly then the pedal continues on until it gets to a lower point where you actually get proper resistance, very disconcerting.!

The question is, have I made a mistake not using a power bleeder and created a problem..? or is that nothing to do with it..?

Would appreciate any info...

As said there are a few threads (see links below) on this long pedal problem and it sometimes seems related to the make of new pads?.........no idea why though, if you still have your old pads you could try swapping back as a comparism test but if you do fix it please report back! :)

http://www.mini2.com/forum/wheels-tyres-brakes/185538-excessive-break-pedal-travel.html

http://www.mini2.com/forum/wheels-tyres-brakes/180671-excessive-brake-pedal-travel.html

Hi mab01uk

Thanks for the reply, yes I saw those threads but I simply can't believe that its the pads, firstly because they are not cheap pads and secondly because I changed the front ones with the same make (not the calipers though) one month ago and had absolutely no problems...

I also can't see how I have introduced air into the system as I was very careful to make sure the reservoir didn't run dry whist I was manual bleeding, the only place air could still be is in the new rear calipers... I'm tempted to get a power bleeder and completely bleed the whole system to see if that does it... Unless anyone thinks that's wrong way to go..?

Indecently, the pedal isn't spongy as 'normal' with air in the system, it simply goes much further down compared to before then works fine...

Cheers

Eezi-Bleed works well:
Gunson | G4062 | Eezibleed Kit (http://www.gunson.co.uk/item.aspx?cat=674&item=1818)

I think I've fixed the problem, I hadn't put the retaining clips that are on the back of the inside pads around the pistons... I did that this morning, gave them one more bleed whilst tapping the sides of the calipers (just in case there was any air trapped, which there wasn't) I also pulled the handbrake on hard then pressed the foot brake a few times, then released the hand brake. I'm sure this brought the piston out a bit more on the piston ratchet than it was before, again helping the pedal travel distance for the better.

I then bleed the front brakes for luck and hey presto back to normal.!

Just telling everyone my experience in case it helps anyone else with the same problem... I think it was not having the wire clips fitted to the pistons properly that was the problem.

Good Luck.!

P.S. I still fancy getting a power bleeder and a tin of ATE Super Blue Racing Brake Fluid just to finish the job off properly..! :-)

Thanks for the feedback!........something well worth checking in future if this problem occurs.

i had same problem, and apparantly the seals on the cap go so buy a new cap for your expansion tank..