Thought I'd announce the fact that I'm the proud owner of a Stornoway Grey GS Auto, which I picked up today. However I'm a little concerned that the brakes aren't as responsive as the demo that I previously tried out .

The footbrake travels all the way to the floor, and whilst the car pulls up ok, I've never experienced that amount of travel on any other cars. The handbrake also needs to be pulled up 7-8 clicks before it fully engages - any less than this and the car will creep when D is engaged.

I'm obviously thinking that I ought to take it back to the dealer, but surely this should have been identified during the PDI. Can those of you that have auto FL2's advise on whether the foot and hand brake operation on my new car is typical.

Many thanks

I'd get it checked out. Handbrake travel on mine is max 2 clicks, and the foot brake does not go anywhere near the floor. Enjoy - most of the rest of us do!  Freelander 2 GS Auto black + privacy glass
Mercedes E220 CDI

Just tried the handbrake .....6 clicks from off!! and there is not much space between the clicks!!! brakes are excellent don't need to travel the pedal to the floor to get a response though...can they tighten your cable??

Sounds like your PDI may have been a tad rushed or incomplete, so I should take it back asap. My brakes are excellent, with normal travel distances much like Carlfraz's  Life is not a dress rehearsal!

Have you checked the brake fluid

Handbrake travel quite a bit, but think its just a retention thats needed

Thanks for all your replies, I took the car back to the dealer today to get it checked out. Following a test drive of my car, the service manager advised me that the brakes were ok, but needed at least 150 miles to bed in. According to him, the brakes will self adjust as they wear in, and the footbrake will 'firm up'. He also said that with regards to the handbrake, this was within acceptable tolerances (6 clicks to fully engage) and should also self adjust within 150 miles.

Apparently the brakes on a Freelander 2 are not servo, but are pump assisted, and therefore have different characteristics. However, if I was at all concerned I should take the car back after the 150 miles for them to check again. I left the dealer thinking that what he said must be correct, or they would have done something about it. What do you guys think? Should I have been more insistent?

Dunno!

I think I may have been a tad unconvinced by that account, unless I knew the dealer was competant and trustworthy. There again, I doubt they would send you away if there was any risk to you or the car!!

I checked my handbrake today, and mine's actually just 4 notches to fully on.  Life is not a dress rehearsal!

I've noticed that the brakes feel "spongy" compared to other cars I have driven, but the car stops ok. Handbrake is 4 clicks on mine. ______________________
2011 Full Fat RR 4.4 TDV8
2012 FL2 SD4 Auto HSE
2013 Kawasaki Versys 650

Just what I thought Nick, would the dealer send me away if there was a problem?

Thanks for your replies - I'll keep you posted

GazKav,
To me there is something wrong.
I would take it to an MOT garage and ask them to test the brakes.
Your Life could depend on them working 100%

waaxh03

Don't know exactly where in the Midlands you are, but remember you can use any LR dealer for warranty work, so why not get a second opinion? There's got to be another dealer reasonably close by in that part of the country.

I am of the same opinion as "waaxh03" in that you have something seriously wrong, and hence do not take any chances. The brakes on my mine took a bit of getting used to after my previous FL1 (drums on the back end) as I found them extremely powerful, with just a "dab", and also had to get out of the habit of applying those brakes as if it were a FL1. I'm cured now......but I would suggest that this potential problem is looked at again.[/b]
By the way, approx 4 clicks for the hand brake, but like other diesel engined cars that I've had, I don't usually bother. This one (auto) "parks" ok. Anyone see anything wrong in that?

chrisaviss wrote:

.................... but like other diesel engined cars that I've had, I don't usually bother. This one (auto) "parks" ok. Anyone see anything wrong in that?

Tim in Scotland wrote:

chrisaviss wrote:

.................... but like other diesel engined cars that I've had, I don't usually bother. This one (auto) "parks" ok. Anyone see anything wrong in that?

Why use Park? You put the fear of god into anybody behind you when you shift the selector from D to P through R and the reversing lights come on! They think you are about to come storming astern at them instead of shooting off in the right direction! What's the matter with using N and the parking brake?