With most rare or unusual cars like ours, neither the brake weight chart nor the ministry computer (at least in the U.K. but probably Europe too) has a record of the cars kerb weight, which is required for the calculation of the braking performance. A car must equal or exceed 50% on the foot brake and either 25% or 16% on the hand brake. The latter is allowed if the foot brake system had dual circuit braking. So for example, if the car weighs 1000 kg then the foot brake must equal or better 500 kg braking force and 250 or 160 kg respectively on the hand brake. However, since the kerb weights are unknown to the ministry, they stipulate that the brake test must be carried out by using a 'g' meter in the car, and any tester should know this. The same applies to cars with permanent four wheel drive since these cannot be tested on a single axle brake roller tester. Any tester who does not carry out the test this way is doing the test incorrectly, and you can challenge any result. Note, if your Murena brakes are working properly as it left the factory, it should be able to lock ALL wheels on the rollers whether foot or hand brake!
This is a common problem with poorly maintained or overhauled rear calipers, and happens to many little used cars. The subject however is too complex for an answer here. You can download my brake booklet (see technical articles section) for a complete guide to the braking system and how to overhaul them properly. (includes some part numbers) N.B: Some spares are also available through Renault as they use a similar caliper.
This is a common problem and is usually due to the rear caliper self-adjusting mechanism not being allowed to work. This is also covered in my brake booklet, but it's usually because the levers are not fully returning after use. If either caliper hand brake will not apply at all, it is most likely because the wedge has been knocked out. It should still be held in the grease inside the boot, but you will need to strip the caliper to refit it. This requires a special Facom tool (no longer available) so if you cannot do it, and don't have the tool, please email me about refitting it for you.
If you have a RHD Bagheera however, the problem initially will probably be due to the poor design of the conversion. This is not covered in my brake booklet. If you have one of these cars and need to know more, you can read about it in the club magazine. Or if you want me to detail the corrective work, please contact me about it.
You could use the following numbers for cross-reference if you cannot obtain any particular brands. Beware FDB106 and FDB114 are almost identical, but the 106's are 14 mm thick whilst 114's are 12 mm thick. Althought they are often listed incorrectly, the FDB106 or equivalent are too thick for some Espace Quadra rear.
Djet:
- Front: EBC DP150 (same as Renault R16 front '65-'67)
- Rear: EBC DP118 (same as Renault R10 rear '62-'75)
M530: - Front: EBC DP112 (Ferodo FDB21 or Mintex 1009 - same as Fiat 850 '68-'73)
- Rear: EBC DP130 (Ferodo FDB22 or Mintex 1008 - same as Autobianchi A111 '69-'73)
Bagheera (and Rancho front): - Front: EBC DP2104 (Ferodo FDB2 or Mintex MDB1002) Girling calipers.
- Rear: EBC DP2189 (Ferodo FDB106 or Mintex MDB1065) Bendix calipers.
Murena: - Front: EBC DP2317 (Ferodo FDB 235(A) 14mm thick or Mintex MDB1112) Bendix calipers.
- Rear: EBC DP2189 (Ferodo FDB 106(A) 15mm thick or Mintex MDB1065) Bendix as Bagheera.
Correct new Murena brake discs are solid and 11mm thick. The 2.2 rear disc is unique which is why it is expensive to buy. If you have a scored disc, the repair thickness is 10mm and the minimum thickness is 9mm. Anything else is incorrect. You have to remove the hubs front or rear to replace any disc as they are mounted to the rear of the hubs! If you fit any new metal brake pipes to the Murena the ends should have the metric DIN flares NOT the old SAE type.
Espace 1: ('84 - '91)
- Front: EBC DP2426 (Ferodo FDB 845) Pads for Lucas Girling calipers.
- Front: EBC DP2545 (Ferodo FDB 393) Only when Bendix calipers fitted.
- Rear: EBC DP2189 (or possibly DP2231 which are same but only 12mm thick if for some reason the rear carrier is narrower than normal)
Rear pads like this for Quadra only (other Espace had drum brakes at the rear).
Espace 2: ('91 - '96) - Front: EBC DP2949 (Pads like this)
- Rear: EBC DP2231 (Pads like this) or
- Rear: EBC DP2885 (Pads like this)
For Bagheera, Murena and Espace rear calipers: If you are not familiar with modern braking systems and particularly the rear calipers combined with handbrakes, you may be unaware that you cannot simply push the pistons back in, when you want to fit new pads. These pistons have to be screwed back in, because of the internal mechanism for self adjustment. The technique requires initially pushing hard whilst rotating the piston clockwise, and once the piston has started screwing back down the thread, maintain light pressure to screw fully in. The slot across the piston face is for the tool to rotate it, and when the piston is fully in, this slot must be horizontal with the small groove above the slot. This position is to allow any air in the fluid to be bled out, when bleeding the brakes.
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