[LadyVCooperS]

I was reversing yesterday and my brakes failed my foot went to the floor, and Lou Lou didn't stop until she hit my Mum's focus with a huge bang.. getting out I expected my bumper to be on the floor, as i was rushing because i was going to be laste for work There wasn't a mark on my Mini, but Mums rear bumper had been pushed right out on the off side..

Mini assist came out, took her away to the dealer who can't find any faults in the braking sysem They are going to keep her until Tuesday and keep testing..

So, for now I've got a brand new Clio as a replacement I miss Lou Lou

[supa-dupa-cooper]

Oh no Poor Lou Lou!

But good on her for winning the fight with the focus

Where has she been taken? Hope she is well again soon

[LadyVCooperS]

I hit the Focus with some ferocity (failed to mention it was wet), so it goes to show just how safe the Mini really is!!

She's in the capable hands of Stephen James! My boyfriend can over see any of the work and make sure the right parts are ordered if needed

needless to say, Mummy wasn't too happy about her bumper, as she's just got her car back from the bodyshop 3 days ago for a new bumper, as my brother hit a badger in it!!

[LMB]

Quote: Originally Posted by LadyVCooperS (original)

Mini assist came out, took her away to the dealer who can't find any faults in the braking sysem

That's a bit worrying. Don't accept the car back until they do.

[mab01uk]

Quote: Originally Posted by LadyVCooperS (original)

I was reversing yesterday and my brakes failed my foot went to the floor,

This should not be possible on a modern car, even classic Minis had dual circuit brakes from the late 1970s. This means if one hydraulic brake circuit fails or leaks the second circuit will still function on 2 wheels to prevent total brake failure which could occur on older cars with single circuit brakes.
Please let us know what the problem that caused this turns out to be?

[LadyVCooperS]

The master tech can't find a fault

Going to have to take the car back as there is nothing to fix

[TonyFoy]

Quote: Originally Posted by mab01uk (original)

This should not be possible on a modern car, even classic Minis had dual circuit brakes from the late 1970s. This means if one hydraulic brake circuit fails or leaks the second circuit will still function on 2 wheels to prevent total brake failure which could occur on older cars with single circuit brakes.

One way of losing brakes is engine cut out . You lose the power assist and although the brake still works it is extremently hard work (think brick behind the pedal) to apply. It can feel like the pedal is 'to the floor' as their is no give whatsoever in the pedal travel.

Can you remember if the engine was still running post shunt?

[mph999]

Quote: Originally Posted by TonyFoy (original)

One way of losing brakes is engine cut out . You lose the power assist and although the brake still works it is extremently hard work (think brick behind the pedal) to apply. It can feel like the pedal is 'to the floor' as their is no give whatsoever in the pedal travel.

Can you remember if the engine was still running post shunt?

True, but for the first or second application there is usually still sufficient assistance available that there wouldn't be an issue, easpecially from a low speed that only requires a small amount of braking.

You can get issues with the master cylinder, when the piston doesn't do it's job so your foot goes to the floor with zero braking available, though this is rare. There was an issues a few years ago on a partiular car (not mini) that was recalled.

Martin

[LadyVCooperS]

The engine was running after it happened, that baffed the hell out of me..

Ugh! Possivle air lock thet free'd itself?

[mph999]

Quote: Originally Posted by LadyVCooperS (original)

The engine was running after it happened, that baffed the hell out of me..

Ugh! Possivle air lock thet free'd itself?

Nope, not likely, the braking system is sealed so not much will go in or out. Air in the brakes would be noticeable by a spongy feeling.

Personally, I would get the master cylinder replaced, being the most likely component that could cause this, and then "recover". If you have a fault, that is intermittant the next time you could be doing 70 approaching a red light. I would suggest the dealer sorts it for you. If you are absolutely positive about what happened (and I don't mean that in a negative way) then I would suggest to the dealer that if they don't swap the master cylinder then if you have a repeat issue you will be holding them liable. Perhaps worth a "friendly" chat with Mini first.

Could be worth checking the ground near where you had your bump, any signs of brake fluid - I don't think there will be as with dual circuits you should have some braking, just reduced, plus the dealer would have found an issue.

As a matter of interest ...

1, Did you foot go all the way to the floor, further travel than normal can feel like foot to the floor but was it that far.

2. If it did go all the way to the floor (my theory about master cylinder) how did you get the pedal back up, as it wouldn't have returned on it's own (if the brakes didn't go on at all, no force in the system to push the pedal back).

Martin

[LadyVCooperS]

They've had a master tech check it over, and found nothing, so I doubt they will be able to change the master cylinder under warranty without a faulty one to return?

The brake pedal went to floor like when pushing the clutcj down, I'm not sure how it returned to the top as I wacked up the hand brake and jumped out to inspect the damage.

The dealer said they would take it further and get a case raised with BMW GB but that will mean keeping my car for weeks and weeks and getting head honcho's involved, and to be honest, I want my Mini back lol

[Nath316]

I know this will sound bad and all sorts but you are sure you depressed the brake pedal and not the clutch arent you

[OneDriver]

Once I found a white carrot in the fridge and was amazed... so I bit into the magical albino carrot to see if it still tasted like carrot but alas... it was a parsnip.

Sometimes we all do odd things without thinking... ok maybe not that odd...

I would suggest that you may have stamped on the clutch by accident; it was wet and you were in a hurry... in the nicest possible way, everyone makes mistakes. It would have been easy for you to aim for the brake, get it wrong and your foot to slip onto the clutch without realising.

Still, when you get your car back I'd find a nice quiet industrial estate and do some repeated emergency stops from low speed to try and replicate the situation.... if after 20 times or so you don't get a result you can only assume the clutch scenario...if however you do get brake failure and it turns out you were right all along t I shall ring interflora and you will receive a bouquet of flowers with my sincerest apologies

[LadyVCooperS]

Quote: Originally Posted by OneDriver (original)

Once I found a white carrot in the fridge and was amazed... so I bit into the magical albino carrot to see if it still tasted like carrot but alas... it was a parsnip.

Sometimes we all do odd things without thinking... ok maybe not that odd...

I would suggest that you may have stamped on the clutch by accident; it was wet and you were in a hurry... in the nicest possible way, everyone makes mistakes. It would have been easy for you to aim for the brake, get it wrong and your foot to slip onto the clutch without realising.

Still, when you get your car back I'd find a nice quiet industrial estate and do some repeated emergency stops from low speed to try and replicate the situation.... if after 20 times or so you don't get a result you can only assume the clutch scenario...if however you do get brake failure and it turns out you were right all along t I shall ring interflora and you will receive a bouquet of flowers with my sincerest apologies

With the greatest of respect, I may be a woman but I'm not stupid! I would have stamped on my left foot if I'd have hit the clutch and not the brake

[OneDriver]

Fair enough, point taken :P

I'd still go and test, test,test though just in case and to put you mind at rest (if you weren't already planning to do this).

[LadyVCooperS]

If they get Mini UK involved I could be without my car for weeks and weeks and they've been testing it since Friday AM and found nothing.

I'm happy to accept it back, as its noted on the system and recorded, if God forbid I do crash, there is always a claim there, yes?

[OneDriver]

I think a claim would be the least of your worries but yes one would think so. I'm having dinner with an ambulance chaser this evening so will ask.. I'll report back tomorrow.

[LadyVCooperS]

I drove Lou Lou to work today, from VERY cold and she was fine! Brakes feel wonderful!
Hmm..

Although she did feel like a bit of a dog going down the road, jolting and Kangarooing a bit!