In 2023 when I bought the car the pedal travel was fairly long and had some terrible crap pads + long overdue fluid renewal. This was done at my indie and resulted in a perfect brake system with lovely stuff but progressive pedal.

Just had new genuine LR brake flexis all round (part of these assemblies are hard lines) and picked it up after service. The brake pedal is very light and has a ridiculously long travel. Almost to the floor. The car brakes fine and you can modulate it still but it feels very wrong and not confidence inspiring.

Garage bled the system 3 times, including w/vac bleeder and once with pedal. I’ve inspected the brakes and N/S caliper bleed screw seemed to be a little wet but not leaky. Nipped it up as wasn’t 100% tight (although was 99% tight) - cannot see any other leaks and master cylinder is dry as a bone.

Garage seem stumped, I’m stumped. Where to go from here? Assuming this isn’t normal

See if you can get a higher pedal by pumping the pedal next time you brake, you don't have to do it fast or hard, just pump it 4-5 times and see if the pedal comes higher up.... If it does there is still air in the system so it will need bleeding properly... Pete
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2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

Did you bleed the 2 valves in the engine bay ? They are at the front of the offside strut … it’s a black metal box with the valves facing horizontally forward. Doing this made a difference for me in terms of travel. V8 or else ...

Right pumped the pedal and it made the most minimal difference, basically none. Which is odd! The pedal does not sink, or go further, it’s just the travel and relative lightness.

As for bleeding, my Tech did not use the valves I believe but apparently does have the right tool to do this via the box! (Also checked the WSM and it mentions this)

So will investigate!

These can be an absolute nightmare to bleed. Some are fine first time, some are just a

The best way seems to be, to unbolt the bottom caliper bolt, and swing up to 45 degrees, and bleed in that position

That's a good tip.....  Pete
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

I will say though that I feel my L405 has a soft travel feel to it compared to my BMW and some other cars ... almost like over assistance, Rather than hitting a travel stop point on the pedal when they bite on the disc, against which you then put more pressure on a a stopped pedal, you keep traveling with the pedal as it increases the bite.

I replaced my rear caliper pistons and seals recently with a full flush and bleed all around . After bleeding, the travel felt markedly softer, longer but smoother than before ... but the performance is still there.

Its almost like when the brakes get older, dirtier, pistons start seizing and not moving as smoothly as they should, this creates resistance in the system which we equate to positive pedal feel. When you rebuild the brakes with a clean, fresh, well working setup, the resistance in the system drops ... making for a softer pedal feel ? i.e. you need less pressure to acheive the same bite cause the system is working better. V8 or else ...

I gave up trying for a firmer pedal after fitting new flexys. I must've bled them umpteen times to no avail. Since then however, I've acquired an iid tool and a pressure bleeder so I'll try again when the weather warms up. A glutton for punishment, that's me.

My tech has agreed to re do the bleed to see if it makes a difference. It’s not scary and I have confidence in the car/brakes but whilst I can live with the softer feel the travel is just alarming, it’s not the worst but does not seem right as before it was relatively firm,

Will update on how it goes.