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MG ZR ZS ZT Technical - ZS120 ABS / Brakes

Hi

My ZS120 has started being a bit funny with the ABS and brakes. Every now and again the car makes a sound like the ABS is kicking in, even if I am not braking. It makes the Drrrrrrrrr sound, but does not affect the cars motion at all (i.e. the brakes do not actually apply).

Also, the ABS seems to kick in when not needed - like on a perfectly dry good condition road. Is this a sign of needing new brakes, discs.... etc?

Also... When I brake at speed (gentle braking to slow on a motorway) the steering wheel shakes side to side.

The funny thing is, I had a service at Soham garage last year and they said the brakes may need sorting out by the next service. I had my 60k service the other month (you may remember) and I asked them to check the brakes cos they felt they were "ageing". I was expecting them to tell me they need doing, but they said they were perfectly fine!

I wish I had a Haynes manual :( Could I get a Haynes for a Rover 45 and a Lotus Elise?

What shall I do?

Thanks

:o/

Thanks
Demon

Sounds like the ABS rotors may be damaged. This seems to be a fairly common problem. Unfortunately, the rotors aren't available separately, so it requires replacement of the CV joints.

Ralph
Ralph

Thanks :(

Time to sell the children to raise cash?
Demon

I have a ZR120 with 90,000 Kms on the clock that has developed a similar problem. With light braking at moderate speed, the steering wheel shakes. I have spoken with the local MG agent and he advises that they have seen this problem in the past and it is caused by excessive wear on the discs. They have advised that replacement of the discs and pads will sort this out. I would appreciate comments from anyone with a similar experience.
C.S. Barrow.

This definitely sounds like discs with excessive run-out from wear, warping or possibly cracking, and can and does happen to any car with disc brakes. If it has developed gradually more like wear, if suddenly then possibly something more serious so shouldn't be left. Replacement discs and pads *should* fix it, but I'd want to see what is wrong first before automatically replacing them. Probably best to check wheel bearings as well.
PaulH Solihull

Thanks for the input Paul. I guess that I should also have mentioned that local guy stated that the excessive wear on the discs was causing the ABS to kick in earlier than it should, and this was the cause of the problem rather than run-out. Does this make sense?
C.S. Barrow.

If the juddering is the road wheel juddering then in theory that could make the wheels turn at slightly different rates for some of the time, which is when ABS kicks in. But it sounds awfully sensitive. ABS activation in itself shouldn't cause the steering wheel to vibrate, just the brake pedal, I'd have said.
PaulH Solihull

Hi Paul, I think that I would agree with you. I have ordered a new set of discs as the existing ones are showing heavy wear, and I will see where this takes me.
C.S. Barrow.

This thread was discussed between 19/04/2006 and 12/01/2011

MG ZR ZS ZT Technical index

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