Intermittent Brake Failure: Avoid This Error as a Workshop

The following fault can occur if lubricant is applied incorrectly on the vehicle in a workshop.

Customers complain that the vehicle sometimes fails to brake. The pedal sinks to the floor without the vehicle stopping. If this type of fault occurs at the wrong time in traffic, it can undoubtedly lead to a serious accident. Interestingly, this type of fault only occurs intermittently. That is, the next time the customer presses the brake, it works perfectly.

As a workshop, one would often start by checking the brake fluid level and considering possibilities such as leaks or air in the brake system, since a mechanical failure rarely occurs intermittently and on all four wheels. Some car brands might also experience this fault due to an internal fault in the ABS hydraulic block. Therefore, troubleshooting this serious fault can quickly become time-consuming and possibly also lead to the replacement of unnecessary spare parts.

This applies to the following models:

Peugeot 208/2008 Year Range: 2012-2019

Citroën C3/DS3 Year Range: 2010-2018

How to find a TSB for this problem in DDTSB:

1.Start by selecting the vehicle in DDTSB.

Go to the TSBs and use one of the following search methods:

Use keywords such as “Brakes” in the top search field.
Select the ‘Brakes’ category (all TSBs concerning brakes for that particular model will be displayed). Note that the top TSB regarding this issue is listed as “Critical TSB”, which is how we in DDTSB alert workshops to this type of serious fault.
You could also choose ‘Symptom – Chassis – Various brake faults’.

As stated in DDTSB TSB No. 10750, the workshop can be at fault for this serious error if it has lubricated the rubber bushing of the anti-roll bar with a lubricant, for example, due to squeaking noises from the anti-roll bar. If this is done, the anti-roll bar can shift sideways, and when turning the steering wheel, the bar can push the brake caliper together, so the customer has to pump the brake pedal several times before the car brakes. For the same reason, the rubber bushings are not sold as a separate spare part by the car manufacturer. When squeaking noises from the anti-roll bar occur, it is because the bushings are worn, and a complete anti-roll bar must be replaced.