6 replies to this topic

[Redfred2]

Advice needed

Just test drove a 1.3 mini with a tiptronic gear box. The car looks good, and drives well, however the one part that makes me feel nervous are the brakes.

When braking the brake pedal feels very firm and takes a fairly large amount of force before the car stops - is this normal?

I don't have any other mini driving experience to compare it to, my last car was fairly new, with abs and power assist so felt very different. A friend also drove it who owns a mini and thought it was fine. I'm also conscious that with it being an auto you wouldnt get the same engine braking as you would with a manual.

[nev_payne]

Was this a BMW Mini? Classic Minis had either Automatic or Manual Stick-Shift gearboxes.

[Alex_B]

New minis dont come with 1.3s so i think it was an auto classic and the servo may not be working correctly which would make the pedal heavier

[Redfred2]

Its a classic, sorry should have included in the original post

[nev_payne]

Sounds like the servo isn't drawing a vacuum. No vacuum, no soft pedal. Check the vacuum pipe is clear and hasn't cloggled up at the manifold end. Carb vacuum pipes are still available to buy new, injection you may have to look into patching-up or remolding another.

[tiger99]

I don't know if yours has a servo, but if not, the brakes will be very heavy, which is normal. Actually, the steering is also very heavy by modern standards, but few complain as it does give very good feel.

If you are not yet familiar with the Mini mechanicals, look under the bonnet for something that looks like item 93 in the following link. That is the servo, and it lives in the drivers side (assuming driver on right of car, as in UK) of the underbonnet area, above the clutch.

http://www.somerford...page=page&id=58

[Redfred2]

Thanks for your help, didnt buy in the end as there were a few other niggling issues, but managed to get a manual instead which the brakes felt much better on.