FG Falcon XR50 brakes

By Graham Smith
Carsguide
12 January 2012

Lynton Farmer
E-mail

A friend is having problems with the brakes in his new FG Falcon XR50 automatic ute. The brake pedal slowly sinks to the floor if he holds his foot lightly on the pedal as you would when sitting at traffic lights. The dealer said it was normal and was done deliberately to help stop the driver's leg being broken in the event of a front-end collision. That sounded like a bit of a fob off to me although I could be wrong. A mechanic friend said this should not happen and is an unsafe roadworthiness issue. He thinks the problem maybe undersized cups/seals in the brake master cylinder. What do you think?

It shouldn't happen and the dealer's explanation is nonsense. Check the brake master cylinder and brake booster for leaks.

Comments on this story

Displaying 3 of 5 comments

ARRGH! No brake pedal should sink to the floor. Either the bucket washers are leaking or the power assist vacuum is faulty. There can be some small loss of pedal height but it should not drop by much. Change your dealership and complain until this safety issue is addressed. To suggest it is to save your ankles in a serious accident is pure BS.
Quantum of Solace of Melbourne Posted on 26 January 2012 10:09pm
Common sense please, no brake pedal should sink to the floor. I am fed up with the CON JOB ONE LINERS thrown at unsuspecting Customers. Just checked, this is a NEW XR50 Ute, this is a serious safety issue. You must demand the brakes be checked thoroughly and demand a report confirming all is well ‘in writing’. Put simply, imagine having a brake pedal at or near the floor at the lights, lights change, off you go, some geaser races thru the red, just what brakes have you initially got, read none, the pedal would need pumping, read time that you, the driver hasn’t got. Do not accept CON JOBS.

With respect CR, if the customers vehicle ‘does it’ and your demo vehicles ‘do it’ that does NOT mean it is correct!
deejay51 of Gold Coast Posted on 21 January 2012 3:58pm
Your Brake pedal should never sink to the floor. END OF STORY!
PB Posted on 19 January 2012 11:20am
Mate, a load of crap. My BA had the same problem. The dealer told me it was brake fluid and tried to charge it. After I kept taking it back and threatened legal action, they admitted that the rear hoses were faulty and there had been a recall out for over 12 months. Sounds like the same problem still exists.
GEOFF THOMAS Posted on 17 January 2012 8:06am
Whilst not familiar with this model, while working at a Holden dealership for over 10 years, the later models brake pedal would also go to the floor if pressed hard enough and not that much pressure is required and this is normal, after moving thousands of different cars around the service center I have had many people inquire about this, and a simple demonstration in my company vehicle put there mind at ease. I suggest Lynton simply asks at the service center to try another car, i’m sure they won’t mind. Problem solved, it is or isn’t normal.
Chris Rainbird of Hobart Posted on 14 January 2012 10:03am

Read all 5 comments

Add your comment on this story

Indicates required

Enter your comments:

We welcome your comments on this story. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Please provide your full name. We also require a working email address - not for publication, but for verification. The location field is optional.

Full name (Will appear on site) Email address: Location

Antispam code

Ask Smithy

Previous question Q