I have a 2002 Jaguar X type 2.5L manual transmission. Recently the braking has become very tough, and I am trying to figure out what I need to replace. What happens is: I push the brake pedal and there is pressure for about 2 seconds. Then the pedal slowly inches to the floor and the ABS system or something else electronic kicks in and automatically jerks the car to a stop. While doing this, it makes a terrible noise but it stops as well as if I put the pedal to the floor. I have checked the pads and they all look great. If I pump the brakes, it doesn't do anything, however I also am not loosing any fluid. So if anyone has had these symptoms, would it be the brake master cylinder? Possibly slave cylinder? The car is also very hard to shift into any gears as there is barely any pressure in the clutch pedal either. I have had the brakes bled and it doesn't do anything. The car is at 136,000 miles and I'd like to keep driving it for many more years.

 

Sounds like no vac in the booster.
Check the brake booster check valve, tube that runs from intake to booster.

Or you could have rust causing pin holes inside the booster.

To check for vacuum, try removing the above mentioned tube from front of the booster.
It should be very hard to pullout because of the vacuum, and should make a suck noise.
If it pulls right out without much effort, you have a vac issue.

I cannot comment on the clutch, never messed with one in the jag

 

Thanks! I'll check that all out tomorrow. I've been trying to find information about this and the X type is such a unique car, anyways thank you for your help. I will post the results tomorrow.