Land Rover Repair: 1996 Range Rover Braking System, master brake cylinder, spongy brakes

Question
My 1996 Range Rover has the ABS Fault light on and brakes are very spongy and poor on first pump. If pumped again, the brakes work well.  Any ideas?

Thanks,
Cal

Answer
This can happen for a number of reasons.  The ABS light is probably a separate issue from the spongy brakes.  With spongy brakes, the first course of action would be to thoroughly bleed the brake system after chekcing for obvious brake fluid leaks.  You should also check the wheel bearings as often excess play in the bearings allows the discs to push back the brake pads.  If none of this explains or resolves the problem, you probably have a faulty master brake cylinder (actuator assembly).