Brake Pedal Feel is poor
45 posts • Page 1 of 2 • 1, 2
Brake Pedal Feel is poor
As above,
I have fitted Cossie fronts, all brand new, with Goodridge hoses all round. Rears have been adjusted, and shoes are ok. (1 Click for handbrake)
Mk5 Escort Servo/Master Cylinder from xRSi fitted.
I expected great stop power and good pedal feel from this, brakes are ok, but you have to have your foot on the floor.......
Any help would be much appreciated, as I have bled the brakes a hundred times, and have drained the system and used all new fluid.
Thanks,
Allan
I have fitted Cossie fronts, all brand new, with Goodridge hoses all round. Rears have been adjusted, and shoes are ok. (1 Click for handbrake)
Mk5 Escort Servo/Master Cylinder from xRSi fitted.
I expected great stop power and good pedal feel from this, brakes are ok, but you have to have your foot on the floor.......
Any help would be much appreciated, as I have bled the brakes a hundred times, and have drained the system and used all new fluid.
Thanks,
Allan
ZT now gone, driving a 330ci.....
- ooral
- Post Master

- Posts: 505
- Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2004 8:52 pm
- Location: Airdrie
mate inside the servo there is a rod, grip the rod with a pair of mole grips and then wind out the top with the correct size socket!
this will then change the biting point!
this will then change the biting point!
- xrsi
- XR(ustyAtTheMo)SI

- Posts: 7351
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 1:00 am
- Location: shropshire
only a couple of turns is needed tho to move the peddle biting point! yes it could put them on all time, but that would need a fair bit of adjustment!
- xrsi
- XR(ustyAtTheMo)SI

- Posts: 7351
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 1:00 am
- Location: shropshire
i mod an escort brake servo to fit onto a fiesta!
this also includes an escort master cylinder which when tested on the car it came off gave good feel when applying the brakes, so i can only think that it needs the rod winding out!
stoned, of course that after you changed the master cylinder the rod would not have needed winding out as it was already wound out so wouldnt make the blindest bit of difference if it was a new one or old one fitted!
this also includes an escort master cylinder which when tested on the car it came off gave good feel when applying the brakes, so i can only think that it needs the rod winding out!
stoned, of course that after you changed the master cylinder the rod would not have needed winding out as it was already wound out so wouldnt make the blindest bit of difference if it was a new one or old one fitted!
- xrsi
- XR(ustyAtTheMo)SI

- Posts: 7351
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 1:00 am
- Location: shropshire
Cheers Ian,
Does that mean that there should be no need for adjustment?
You beat me xRSi! I'll wind the rod out later on in the week and let you all know.....
Thanks for trhe help and input lads, helpful folks on here as always
Does that mean that there should be no need for adjustment?
You beat me xRSi! I'll wind the rod out later on in the week and let you all know.....
Thanks for trhe help and input lads, helpful folks on here as always
ZT now gone, driving a 330ci.....
- ooral
- Post Master

- Posts: 505
- Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2004 8:52 pm
- Location: Airdrie
stoned, of course that after you changed the master cylinder the rod would not have needed winding out as it was already wound out so wouldnt make the blindest bit of difference if it was a new one or old one fitted!
eh
the rods on the servo...
Basically in my case the Escort and cylinder from the scrappy were old. So when I did the brakes I found the pedal was near useless. I managed to get brakes by extending that rod but unfortunately I had to wind it so far to get any feel at all that the brakes would be on very slightly
You'd start driving, they would heat up and eventually the car wouldnt move
The soloution was a brand new cylinder from motorfactors. Once I fit that I wound the rod on the servo all the way back to the begining and the pedal was still perfect.
- Stoned
- Elite Post Master

- Posts: 8944
- Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2002 10:46 pm
- Location: Portsmouth
Stoned :I honestly dont know as I fitted an actual Escort servo and break cylinder. Doesnt XRSI mod a Fiesta servo to take a escort break cylinder?
What model Escort
I have a Mk5 servo and m/cylinder, the servo is different, the push rod into the back of the servo is much too long, and would mean the barkes were applied all the time if fitted?
Interested into how this could be fitted
John
Audi quattro turbo
- bowdenj
- Senior Poster

- Posts: 483
- Joined: Mon Feb 24, 2003 1:03 pm
- Location: Wigan
Yeah
I've modded the bracket, so the servo fits, but the pushrod at the back is much longer than the original (L reg 1.1), so when you are fitting the master cylinder, it is already applying pressure to the brakes ?
Hope that makes sense, its driving me nuts!!
John
I've modded the bracket, so the servo fits, but the pushrod at the back is much longer than the original (L reg 1.1), so when you are fitting the master cylinder, it is already applying pressure to the brakes ?
Hope that makes sense, its driving me nuts!!
John
Audi quattro turbo
- bowdenj
- Senior Poster

- Posts: 483
- Joined: Mon Feb 24, 2003 1:03 pm
- Location: Wigan
Excellent, i've been waiting for someone to bring up this topic!
I've got RS2000 front brakes and focus rear disc brakes on my 1.6Si.
The pedal feel is ok, it's not down to the floor, but I would like it a bit higher. It's currently about half waydown.
So first question, could I adjust my Si servo to get the 'biting point' higher? Like XRSI said to do with the escort one?
And if not, could I change to the escort one? What parts do I need, servo and master cylinder? I realise i'd have to re-drill the mounting bracket, thats ok to do. And has anyone quickly tell me what to do, to replace these parts!
Thanks, tom
I've got RS2000 front brakes and focus rear disc brakes on my 1.6Si.
The pedal feel is ok, it's not down to the floor, but I would like it a bit higher. It's currently about half waydown.
So first question, could I adjust my Si servo to get the 'biting point' higher? Like XRSI said to do with the escort one?
inside the servo there is a rod, grip the rod with a pair of mole grips and then wind out the top with the correct size socket
And if not, could I change to the escort one? What parts do I need, servo and master cylinder? I realise i'd have to re-drill the mounting bracket, thats ok to do. And has anyone quickly tell me what to do, to replace these parts!
Thanks, tom

- PUREtom
- Elite Post Master

- Posts: 1145
- Joined: Thu Mar 20, 2003 10:23 am
- Location: nr Bas Vegas Drives: Si
Ah sh*t yeah I had forgotten about that part. Yes we also shortened the rod too
That fork bit at the end, althought it looks like one big unit on the rod actually is two seperate pieces. So we got that off and then cut the rod down to the right length, used an angle grinder on the end so the fork bit fitted on again and then hammer the end of the rod back down so the fork wouldnt come off
Probably doesnt make much sense from reading this but look and you'll understand what I mean
That fork bit at the end, althought it looks like one big unit on the rod actually is two seperate pieces. So we got that off and then cut the rod down to the right length, used an angle grinder on the end so the fork bit fitted on again and then hammer the end of the rod back down so the fork wouldnt come off
Probably doesnt make much sense from reading this but look and you'll understand what I mean
- Stoned
- Elite Post Master

- Posts: 8944
- Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2002 10:46 pm
- Location: Portsmouth
Stoned :Ah sh*t yeah I had forgotten about that part. Yes we also shortened the rod too
That fork bit at the end, althought it looks like one big unit on the rod actually is two seperate pieces. So we got that off and then cut the rod down to the right length, used an angle grinder on the end so the fork bit fitted on again and then hammer the end of the rod back down so the fork wouldnt come off
Probably doesnt make much sense from reading this but look and you'll understand what I mean
Makes perfect sense, I owe you one
Many, many thanks
John
Audi quattro turbo
- bowdenj
- Senior Poster

- Posts: 483
- Joined: Mon Feb 24, 2003 1:03 pm
- Location: Wigan
Hi Tom
Yeah basically you can try the adjusting but be very careful. Only do it a little bit. The reason you have the problem is the Fiesta brake cylinder simply isnt designed for larger calipers, let alone calipers all round.
Although it is a hassle, the Escort brake cylinder is man enough for the job. As above you need to redrill the mounting bracket and shorten the rod as described above.. You can pick up a brake cylinder and servo from a MK5 1.6 non ABS escort for about £10 from a scrappy BUT make sure it's still from a car that has brake fluid in the res
Otherwise the seals will have dried out and when you come to use it, nothing much will happen.
Yeah basically you can try the adjusting but be very careful. Only do it a little bit. The reason you have the problem is the Fiesta brake cylinder simply isnt designed for larger calipers, let alone calipers all round.
Although it is a hassle, the Escort brake cylinder is man enough for the job. As above you need to redrill the mounting bracket and shorten the rod as described above.. You can pick up a brake cylinder and servo from a MK5 1.6 non ABS escort for about £10 from a scrappy BUT make sure it's still from a car that has brake fluid in the res
Otherwise the seals will have dried out and when you come to use it, nothing much will happen.
- Stoned
- Elite Post Master

- Posts: 8944
- Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2002 10:46 pm
- Location: Portsmouth
Here is what i did with mine, me and stoned had endless conversations about this as the mod is a baxtered to do.
Right then, you need to get a servo and master cylinder, and the pedal bar that goes through the bulkhead to the pedal, and also mounting brackets from a MK5 escort. Strip all the old gear off, (Draining Fluid first) but the mounting brackets off the escort need to be drilled to match the stud offset on the fiesta bulkhead, so what i did was, Knock the studs ouf of the brackets, bolt the old fiesta brackets and escort brackets together face to face, 2 of the holes will line up, but 2 won't, so put a drill through the existing hole in the fiesta bracket, and drill the same hole dead in line into the escort bracket.
Then put the studs in the holes on the escort brackets, these studs have little teeth on them so they sink into the metal and not turn when tightening the nuts up from inside. Now, put some sealent on the bracket faces, put the cross bar and bush and the spring back into the escort brackets, then get someone to go inside up under the dash and tigtening the nuts, while your holding the brackets.
Now its time for the MK5 Escort servo, attach the plunger (rod) from the back of the servo to the cross bar, using the white plastic pin, then attach the clip to stop the pin coming out.
Now bolt the servo to the brackets and tighten 3 nuts except for one, reason being is, you need to attach the stabilzing bar up, which goes down to the steering rack, to stop things flexing, but it needs modding, the bolt in the steering rack needs to be taking out, as you need the stabilzing bar off, as it fouls the escort bracket and won't go on the 4th stud on the back of the servo. Take a little off the side of it where it bolts to the escort bracket, Do this using a Bench grinder. Once you have done it, put a little paint on it to stop the edge rusting. Once dry bolt the stabilzing bar to the servo and tighten the 4th nut, then attach the bar back to the steering rack and tighten the bolt.
Now the servo's mounted, slide the master cylinder into the servo, making sure the rubber seal is around it, and tighten the 2 studs up on the front of the servo. Now you need to carefully shape the original brake pipes to line up with the holes in the Escort MK5 Master cylinder.
Once done, tighten fully being carefull not to cross thread. (Don't fill the resivoir with fluid yet) Now, thats all the servo and master cylinder complete.
But go in the car, and you will notice the brake pedal is no longer level, its down on the floor, this is due to the MK5 Escort mounting brackets being longer than the fiesta brakets, you will also notice the Servo and master cylinder mounted further forward now.
You now need to change the rod going through the bulkhead(by header tank) to the pedal, this is not easy, as there is no way to remove it from the main cross bar, as its permantly fixed with a pin that is crimped, this needs to be cut using a Junior hacksaw blade (without handle) so be carefull, once cut through, go inside the car and take the clip off the brake pedal that holds the bar to it. The bar should now slide out from the bulkhead from under the bonnet.
The escort bar needs to have another Slit cut into it for the clip that holds it to the pedal, as well as spacing is needed to get the pedal the right height as the clutch. A spacer made from metal of some sort is needed, something that will slide onto the bar.
Once this is complete the bar needs to be re-attached to the main cross bar under the bonnet, using a Bolt with a blank shoulder on it, and exactly the right diamater as the holes in the bar, as you don't want any play in the pedal setup. Also use a Nylock nut on this bolt to tighten it. But don't crank it up to tight.
Now fill the system up with Fresh fluid and do a full bleed, with an assistant of course. I think ive covered most of it, its a bit complicated setup, but one that works stunningly.
Right then, you need to get a servo and master cylinder, and the pedal bar that goes through the bulkhead to the pedal, and also mounting brackets from a MK5 escort. Strip all the old gear off, (Draining Fluid first) but the mounting brackets off the escort need to be drilled to match the stud offset on the fiesta bulkhead, so what i did was, Knock the studs ouf of the brackets, bolt the old fiesta brackets and escort brackets together face to face, 2 of the holes will line up, but 2 won't, so put a drill through the existing hole in the fiesta bracket, and drill the same hole dead in line into the escort bracket.
Then put the studs in the holes on the escort brackets, these studs have little teeth on them so they sink into the metal and not turn when tightening the nuts up from inside. Now, put some sealent on the bracket faces, put the cross bar and bush and the spring back into the escort brackets, then get someone to go inside up under the dash and tigtening the nuts, while your holding the brackets.
Now its time for the MK5 Escort servo, attach the plunger (rod) from the back of the servo to the cross bar, using the white plastic pin, then attach the clip to stop the pin coming out.
Now bolt the servo to the brackets and tighten 3 nuts except for one, reason being is, you need to attach the stabilzing bar up, which goes down to the steering rack, to stop things flexing, but it needs modding, the bolt in the steering rack needs to be taking out, as you need the stabilzing bar off, as it fouls the escort bracket and won't go on the 4th stud on the back of the servo. Take a little off the side of it where it bolts to the escort bracket, Do this using a Bench grinder. Once you have done it, put a little paint on it to stop the edge rusting. Once dry bolt the stabilzing bar to the servo and tighten the 4th nut, then attach the bar back to the steering rack and tighten the bolt.
Now the servo's mounted, slide the master cylinder into the servo, making sure the rubber seal is around it, and tighten the 2 studs up on the front of the servo. Now you need to carefully shape the original brake pipes to line up with the holes in the Escort MK5 Master cylinder.
Once done, tighten fully being carefull not to cross thread. (Don't fill the resivoir with fluid yet) Now, thats all the servo and master cylinder complete.
But go in the car, and you will notice the brake pedal is no longer level, its down on the floor, this is due to the MK5 Escort mounting brackets being longer than the fiesta brakets, you will also notice the Servo and master cylinder mounted further forward now.
You now need to change the rod going through the bulkhead(by header tank) to the pedal, this is not easy, as there is no way to remove it from the main cross bar, as its permantly fixed with a pin that is crimped, this needs to be cut using a Junior hacksaw blade (without handle) so be carefull, once cut through, go inside the car and take the clip off the brake pedal that holds the bar to it. The bar should now slide out from the bulkhead from under the bonnet.
The escort bar needs to have another Slit cut into it for the clip that holds it to the pedal, as well as spacing is needed to get the pedal the right height as the clutch. A spacer made from metal of some sort is needed, something that will slide onto the bar.
Once this is complete the bar needs to be re-attached to the main cross bar under the bonnet, using a Bolt with a blank shoulder on it, and exactly the right diamater as the holes in the bar, as you don't want any play in the pedal setup. Also use a Nylock nut on this bolt to tighten it. But don't crank it up to tight.
Now fill the system up with Fresh fluid and do a full bleed, with an assistant of course. I think ive covered most of it, its a bit complicated setup, but one that works stunningly.
- MikeyXR2i
- Elite Post Master

- Posts: 2301
- Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2002 12:00 am
- Location: Cardiff Drives: Very Shiny XR2i
not being funny mike but i tried that method and it is a real arse about face way of doing it compaired to how i do mine!
the way mine are you do not need to play with the peddle or brake bar!
all mine bolt straight on to a fiesta (but it may need the rod adjusting from what has been said in this post, but its the first one that has needed it doing!) without hassel!
the way mine are you do not need to play with the peddle or brake bar!
all mine bolt straight on to a fiesta (but it may need the rod adjusting from what has been said in this post, but its the first one that has needed it doing!) without hassel!
- xrsi
- XR(ustyAtTheMo)SI

- Posts: 7351
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 1:00 am
- Location: shropshire
Fookin hell jst read all that and its putting me off!!!!!!!
Well am about to covert my front brakes to the cossy ones and dont have any intention of doing a rear disc conversion (well no at the moment anyway, just going to get them adjusted)
So would i really need to upgrade the master cylinder or can i get away with using the current standard one???
whats the advantages and/or disadvantages

So would i really need to upgrade the master cylinder or can i get away with using the current standard one???
whats the advantages and/or disadvantages
- reisskahn
- Post Master

- Posts: 930
- Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2005 7:47 pm
The advantage is theres no extra work on the brake cylinder front if you only upgrade the fronts
The disadvantage is the pedal will travel down about halfway before it bites making for lousey pedal feel, but it will brake just as well.
The disadvantage is the pedal will travel down about halfway before it bites making for lousey pedal feel, but it will brake just as well.
- Stoned
- Elite Post Master

- Posts: 8944
- Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2002 10:46 pm
- Location: Portsmouth
Stoned :The advantage is theres no extra work on the brake cylinder front if you only upgrade the fronts
The disadvantage is the pedal will travel down about halfway before it bites making for lousey pedal feel, but it will brake just as well.
hmm am confused
erm ill actually just upgrade the brakes and leave the standard servo/cylinder and if feels ok then ill leave it if not then time for a piss-taking mission
- reisskahn
- Post Master

- Posts: 930
- Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2005 7:47 pm
It's not that hard to do the conversion of the cylinder/servo. If I'd known what was involved I'd have done it as a matter of course. It did make a bit of a difference to mine.
Get a Mk5 Escort set up, undo it from the mounts that are on the car, don't try and get the mounts of that looks a bit of a nightmare! Then do the same on the Fiesta, all you have to do then is enlarge the holes on the mount on your car, and Bob's your uncle! I am mechanically inept and reckon I could have done it myself, I just didn't know what was involved in 'modifying' the mk5 parts.
Give it a bash, long term it'll be better.
Get a Mk5 Escort set up, undo it from the mounts that are on the car, don't try and get the mounts of that looks a bit of a nightmare! Then do the same on the Fiesta, all you have to do then is enlarge the holes on the mount on your car, and Bob's your uncle! I am mechanically inept and reckon I could have done it myself, I just didn't know what was involved in 'modifying' the mk5 parts.
Give it a bash, long term it'll be better.
ZT now gone, driving a 330ci.....
- ooral
- Post Master

- Posts: 505
- Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2004 8:52 pm
- Location: Airdrie
ooral :It's not that hard to do the conversion of the cylinder/servo. If I'd known what was involved I'd have done it as a matter of course. It did make a bit of a difference to mine.
Get a Mk5 Escort set up, undo it from the mounts that are on the car, don't try and get the mounts of that looks a bit of a nightmare! Then do the same on the Fiesta, all you have to do then is enlarge the holes on the mount on your car, and Bob's your uncle! I am mechanically inept and reckon I could have done it myself, I just didn't know what was involved in 'modifying' the mk5 parts.
Give it a bash, long term it'll be better.
thats not all you have to do!
you have to change the length of the rod aswell!
- xrsi
- XR(ustyAtTheMo)SI

- Posts: 7351
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 1:00 am
- Location: shropshire
hmm well am still confused but i think ill take it step by step. okay can someone pls have a look at the following and tell me is that all the stuff i need to upgrade the servo/cylinders or is there any other bits i need and which ones???????
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ford-Escort-GTI-B ... otohosting
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ford-Escort-Brake ... dZViewItem
once all this is clear and i have all the fitting kit etc ill be asking more questions on the nxt steps
cheers
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ford-Escort-GTI-B ... otohosting
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ford-Escort-Brake ... dZViewItem
once all this is clear and i have all the fitting kit etc ill be asking more questions on the nxt steps
cheers
- reisskahn
- Post Master

- Posts: 930
- Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2005 7:47 pm
45 posts • Page 1 of 2 • 1, 2