Sponge brakes 2001 sprinter

daisymini

daisymini

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Just got my new van, scary moments with soft brake pedal, being disabled doesn't help!!!
I have researched before I get ripped off with some unscrupulous garage, and it seems it's a common problem for sprinters of this age.
I like to live life on the edge but these brakes take it to another level,
ive googled it till it comes out of my ears, anybody with similar problems and an answer much appreciated.
 
Sue would have to say there's prob nought wrong but you do get a spongy brake with the effect of ---oh sh-t am I gonna stop?
When they first came out that was a war cry till folk accepted this as so called normal with a long pedal as well
Even after being bled on the merc computer the out come was the same ,sorry but I can't give you a solution.
Without feeling the brake ,have you had a indigent ant test by a merc dealer? Could a bleed maybe help?
Hope all works out
Regards gordon
 
The laird said:
Sue would have to say there's prob nought wrong but you do get a spongy brake with the effect of ---oh sh-t am I gonna stop?
When they first came out that was a war cry till folk accepted this as so called normal with a long pedal as well
Even after being bled on the merc computer the out come was the same ,sorry but I can't give you a solution.
Without feeling the brake ,have you had a indigent ant test by a merc dealer? Could a bleed maybe help?
Hope all works out
Regards gordon
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Sadly Gordon, I also think I have to live with soft pedal, I've researched and am not prepared to take to garage for an expensive ABS problem repair that doesn't exist.
But having short legs doesn't help the sudden rush of adrenaline when the brakes don't work. Lol
 
My 1996 Sprinter had brakes that felt very spongy, but they worked fine. Worth getting a second opinion on them though, if you can't set the ABS off before your foot hits the floor, theres definitely something wrong, just make sure everything packed away before you try. :)
Are there any pedal extenders available? might make it more comfortable to drive.
 
mark61 said:
My 1996 Sprinter had brakes that felt very spongy, but they worked fine. Worth getting a second opinion on them though, if you can't set the ABS off before your foot hits the floor, theres definitely something wrong, just make sure everything packed away before you try. :)
Are there any pedal extenders available? might make it more comfortable to drive.
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Hi Mark I think that's the way to go with an extension, I realised on the M6 when the traffic suddenly stopped and I didn't I need to reassess my braking ability, my heart pounded like I'd had a sniff of poppers !
 
Hi, you could check if there's any brake peddle adjustment to the master cylinder, if you have an adjustable thrust rod (the rod that is behind the brake peddle) then you can undo the lock nut & wind it out a bit to lessen the peddle travel.

If you have a spongy peddle ie., the second time you press it in quick succession it brakes quicker or feels stronger, then you need to bleed the system, you may be able to bleed the abs unit by braking on a slippery surface thus making the abs activate which will hopefully bleed it.

If the van has been stood for a while then there may be some rust on the disks which will take time to wear off.

you should also check the vacuum pipes for leaks & the servo for rust which might have made a hole in it.

Phill
 
daisymini said:
Just got my new van, scary moments with soft brake pedal, being disabled doesn't help!!!
I have researched before I get ripped off with some unscrupulous garage, and it seems it's a common problem for sprinters of this age.
I like to live life on the edge but these brakes take it to another level,
ive googled it till it comes out of my ears, anybody with similar problems and an answer much appreciated.
Click to expand...

hi
if its got rear drum brakes it will need the rear shoes adjusting up
 
time4t said:
Hi, you could check if there's any brake peddle adjustment to the master cylinder, if you have an adjustable thrust rod (the rod that is behind the brake peddle) then you can undo the lock nut & wind it out a bit to lessen the peddle travel.

If you have a spongy peddle ie., the second time you press it in quick succession it brakes quicker or feels stronger, then you need to bleed the system, you may be able to bleed the abs unit by braking on a slippery surface thus making the abs activate which will hopefully bleed it.

If the van has been stood for a while then there may be some rust on the disks which will take time to wear off.

you should also check the vacuum pipes for leaks & the servo for rust which might have made a hole in it.

Phill
Click to expand...

All the points you've quoted will be checked coz I agree, but reading up on this particular version of sprinter seems to be a common problem that I may have to live with
 
If you pump the brake pedal quickly dose the pedal harden and the bite travel decrease if so you .may have air in the systems first check the master cylinder for any sign's of Leak's ,check behind pedal and under the bonnet behind the servo .can you compair your brake pedal with a similar vehicle .if in doubt get a professional opinion .their are many things that can cause poor brake's.
 
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Might also be worth getting the Flexible brake hoses checked out , it is has been known for them to expand when under pressure if the walls are weak causing similar problems as you describe
 
molly 2 said:
If you pump the brake pedal quickly dose the pedal harden and the bite travel decrease if so you .may have air in the systems first check the master cylinder for any sign's of Leak's ,check behind pedal and under the bonnet behind the servo .can you compair your brake pedal with a similar vehicle .if in doubt get a professional opinion
Click to expand...

Paul (flyby) was going to clamp the flexi brake pipes last weekend to check but we didn't get time. Going to check calipers etc this weekend coz van had been stood since last September before I bought it. Don't want to take it to garage to be told it's an ABS expensive problem when it's not. I have researched the problem and it seems to be common on this model, but haven't found a conclusive solution.
My problem is short legs and stiff feet don't make good practice for soft brakes......wet knickers spring to mind ,, LOL
 
daisymini said:
Paul (flyby) was going to clamp the flexi brake pipes last weekend to check but we didn't get time. Going to check calipers etc this weekend coz van had been stood since last September before I bought it. Don't want to take it to garage to be told it's an ABS expensive problem when it's not. I have researched the problem and it seems to be common on this model, but haven't found a conclusive solution.
My problem is short legs and stiff feet don't make good practice for soft brakes......wet knickers spring to mind ,, LOL
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I would think the best advice you can get would be from flyby .
 
eddyt said:
hi
if its got rear drum brakes it will need the rear shoes adjusting up
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They are discs allround, i have owned sprinters since the first one came out I also buy and sell sprinters and up until the w906 model they have had spongy brakes from new, you will find though that when you need them to stop they do actually stop although the peddle does go a long way down.
Another thing that makes them really spongy is if someone has replaced the brake pads and pushed the callipers pistons back without opening the bleed screw on the calliper then it makes the seal in the master cylinder turn, is I found out the hard way, then you end up with really spongy brakes that are really frightening.
But your problem is very unlikely to be the ABS.
Richard
 
I would take it for a pre mot to a garage you trust. You might get an assessment of where the problem lies.
 
FULL TIMER said:
Might also be worth getting the Flexible brake hoses checked out , it is has been known for them to expand when under pressure if the walls are weak causing similar problems as you describe
Click to expand...

that's the first port of call i would look at, replace the flexible pipes with teflon armoured pipe and a good bleed through with DOT5.1 brake fluid, you will notice a vast improvement on pedal travel,
just out of the trade after fifty years so know a small amount about spongy brakes:)
 
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My 2005 sprinter has soft brakes with a long travel but the abs kicks in as needed.
There are discs all round but the parking brake are rear drums which can be adjusted fairly easily - see youtube videos.
I fitted a swivel seat from an Espace which has lowered the driving position a couple inches and given it more of a car feel as opposed to a van. It's more comfortable to drive too, especially long distances. The Espace seat runners are a straight fit width wise onto the sprinter base which just needs a couple of holes drilled to align with the runners.

Mr. B
 
Pointless filling sues head with all these things ,these vehicles have history of long soft pedal.contact Mercedes technical and the reply will be the same as some posts regarding it being (normal) and will stop if required.
One good post was if pads are pushed back or calliper Pistons pushed back without bleeder opened the master cylinder seals can roll or turn which in turn can cause this effect.
Regards Gardon
 
hi
same thing can happen if you have a bit play on a wheel bearing.
 
I have to agree with what you are saying about German engineering the rest of the engineering side on the sprinters is superb but the fast decaying bodywork and the brakes let down a superb van,even my w906 model motorhome the brakes could be better, but we also run sprinters in our private ambulance service which are the 416 and 516 and the brakes on them are superb it is just the 3.5 ton and below that seem to have a problem especially on the w903 model,
over the years I have tried lots of different things including trying the braided pipes but never had any success in improving the brakes on them
Richard
 
One easy check you can do is, with the engine switched off pump the pedal until the servo is empty if the pedal is hard it is unlikely their is air in the system .abs should be fine if the warning light is off .My van is not a sprinter but my brakes are very soft and has a long travel but that is normal ,on modern vehicles brakes are computer controlled with brake assist and auto stability controller . Completely different feel from the old ambo .
 
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