Loss Of Brakes - CITROEN XM Internet Reference

The brakes

100 Loss of Brakes

100 Loss of Brakes
I have an XM 2.1 Turbo Diesel Automatic 1992 Right hand drive (UK registered and driven).
New brakes were fitted 1 month ago - all went well. The brakes work fine without any juddering (so I
guess the discs are OK), however on occasions the brakes give total fade at about 5mph after normal
braking from a higher speed - ie: there is total brake loss for about 1 second before the brakes then work
again. No pumping is required to regain the brake - it just loses it for about 1 second then returns. Even
at this low speed it is pretty disconcerting to have total brake fade, and I am concerned that this may be
the start of something nasty (and expensive if I hit something!). Any suggestions please - thanks
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Try bleeding the brakes as this is a very common symptom.
Just letting a small quantity of fluid out of each of the four nipples with the brake pedal held constantly
down with a broom handle may be the magic answer.
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This happened more than once on my XMs. It is a faulty ABS sensor. I took my XM to the garage 8!!!
times to have this problem solved. THe 9th time we found out that it was a faulty ABS sensor. It is
probably one of the front sensors (on my car the left one). Does the problem also occur while steering
and braking in a corner? Many XMs fitted with ABS suffer from this problem.
Arthur Fryling
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I had exactly the same symptoms recently when I had both discs and pads replaced. I was told by the
Citroen dealer that until the pads bed in, this is not uncommon. New discs added to the problem - due
to soft disc material and hard asbestos-free pads. When used lightly, a glaze builds up. I was told to
"test the ABS" a few times or drive down a steep hill on the brakes. It cured it without bleeding.
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Try bleeding the brakes as this is a very common symptom. Just letting a small quantity of fluid out of
each of the four nipples with the brake pedal held constantly down with a broom handle may be the
magic answer.
Alternatively, you could always ask your spouse/partner/lover/friend/child/neighbour to put their foot on
the pedal..
148 Citroen XM Internet Reference Version 1.0
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