Brake Problem

I and few others I know of, F430, F430 spider and scuds had similar issues with CCB, it almost felt like brakes faded, rather I had no power brakes at high speeds. This was a intermitted problem, happened at high speeds. Finally dealer replaced the booster units on all and the problem was taken care of. The tech at the dealership told me a check valve in the booster system seems to be getting stuck. I realize you have a 458 but from what you’re describing it’s identical symptoms.

 

bed it in first :

60mph to 30 brake hard 10 times.
90mph to 40 brake hard 10 times.

ur brakes will become the best in the world.

 

good advice

 

+1. good advice.

Most brand new car owners don't perform the bedding-in brakes procedure, this is critical in cars with CCB rotors, as the procedure takes 3 times longer.

 

Maybe

I did nothing to my brakes since picking up the 458 and it has been fine.

I would go to Ferrari retailer.

Lee

 

I have this issue as well. It seems like the brake boost (or vacuum) is lost at times. The pedal becomes very hard and it's impossible to get into ABS. I don't think it is a question bedding of the brakes. I've owned many ceramic brake cars (Ferrari and Porsche) and this is more of a brake boost/bias/pressure issue. The pedal pressure is inconsistent. My car is now at the dealer and they are investigating. One symptom is that the brake pedal is very hard when you first start the car, and it stays that way for several seconds after you start the motor.

 

Unfortunately first couple of times I complained to the dealer about this issue they did a visual check and a soft test drive, they determined there were no problem with the brakes. I told them they need to test the car at high speeds to replicate my problem, dealer said they weren’t allowed to test the car above the legal speed limit, finally I got behind the wheel with the head technician next to me, drove it really hard and slammed on the brakes, tech’s face turned white he knew then how severe the problem was. They kept the car for a week, they actually contacted Ferrari in Italy, finally determined it was problem in the booster system.
Ever since they replaced the booster unit, my 430 brakes like it’s suppose to, hopefully the tech coming to you from Venezuela will be little more hands on. I’m telling you this so you don’t end up like me and they resolve your issue on the first attempt.

 

while at it, flush the entire brake system.

My Scuderia came with so much air in the brake lines, I could not believe it.

On a second time, I got the car to its first annual service, straight out of a Ferrari dealer. Brakes were erratic, I checked the brake fluid reservoir and noticed the different fluid color. I bled the brakes once again (a year after purchase) and everything got back to normal. There were air bubbles in my brake lines.

My experience, neither the factory of an authorized dealer know how to properly flush the brake fluid in this car.

I've been using Castrol SRF in the Scuderia for 2 years. Great track performance, great street performance, I flush the system once every year, and I bleed the lines every other track day.

 

I did the same thing and breaks are better

 

Finally had a chance to drive my 458 on a track. Three laps in - hardly any brakes at the end of the straight - very scary! Something is definitely wrong with the brakes on this car. Pedal gets hard and no matter how hard you press, you get very little braking force. It didn't happen on every lap. Needless to say, I retired the car early from the track day

Anybody else experience this? Dealer has investigated several systems on the car, but can't find anything wrong.

 

Raygr,

Sorry to hear this. I have attended two track events and have had zero issues with the brakes.

I did do a good bed in procedure while the car was going thru the break-in period. I just used break-in as an excuse to drive the car more

Keep us informed when they do figure it out. Good Luck

 

Same here. My brakes are working well at low speeds, however, braking down from 150mph+, they sometimes (but not always) fade and it feels like the car will never stop. As far as I can tell either the brakes are still not bedded in or booster unit is not good.

Is it too late to bed in the brakes after a few hundred miles if not done at the very beginning?

 

Hi guys, just to bring this thread up again.

Apart from John's advice to bed in the ceramic brakes, are there any other specific issues to look out for? How hard of braking is required (to the point when ABS is triggered)?

How much cooling time is required between each deceleration?

Regards

 

Same here.

 

thanks for this i have not been happy with my brakes since I got the car. Did your suggested proceedure last night.....what a difference many thanks. i think because the cars gearbox is so fantastic and I love the wail of the engine I have been using engine braking to a much greater degree than normal.

 

Off topic, but it would be great if you could post a picture of your car on the streets of Bogota -- I'm guessing there aren't many 458s to be seen there.

Back on topic, the break-in procedure seems like a good idea. I wonder how many owners are not aware of this and as a result are driving around with sub-par braking on their Italias and other CCB equipped F-Cars.

 

Is this something you only do when the car is new or it's something you have to do if you haven't done this before period?

 

is this recommended for a car that has 4000 or so miles to improve the breaks... or only for brand new vehicles? thx.

 

I think there are two separate problem issues being discussed in this thread:

1) Brakes fading: having the brakes properly bedded in can improve their consistency and resistance to fading.

2) Some people (such as the OP ignaciotero and myself) experienced some kind of apparent fault with the brake booster system where the pedal firmness is inconsistent and stopping power is greatly reduced. If you have this problem, I think it's best to let the dealer look at it.

 

sorry for my ignorance but when you say "hard" does that mean slam the brakes?

 

It's the ABS system at high speed the car doesn't want to fully engage the calipers due to (1) cold brake disc's (2) It doesn't want to lock the brakes.The 458 has a braking system like no other that puts the brake in an agressive mode were the pads come closer to the disc in preparing for a braking.I think at high speed it doesn't do it.I know exactly what you are talking about.I have found myself twice pumping the brake to make it slow down in a critical moment

 

Yea could John clarify on this? I've got a set of specific bed in instructions from McLaren. Doesn't seem to be as simple here.