Here's the situation with my 95 EX accord wagon. I press the brake while driving and it gradually sinks to the floor. Especially while I'm sitting at a light, I'll have to pump the pedal to get the pressure back up. I already read through the returned searches and found that this is likely a brake master cylinder but I have another issue which I would like to know if this is also associated...

While driving sometimes I apply the brake and it feels like only one side of the car is braking. I can tell best when braking hard from 10mph to zero the car pulls to one side. I read in another post someone said to change some bolt on the caliper or something like that but I need reliable info. Will the master cylinder/ bleeding solve both these issues or do I need new front calipers?

 

My guess ? It's the master cyl.....or if your lucky a brake bleeding will fix it.

 

as for the pedal sinking, my master cylinder gets my vote too. but replacing the master cylinder wont fix your pulling, its most likely a siezed caliper. new caliper bolts should do the trick. i had the same prob and it worked for me

 

might as well check the booster when you at it.

with the key off the car, pump the brake panel about 10 times, until it's rock hard, keep pressure on the panel when you stick in the key, turn on the key and get the car running. See if the panel will sink, and make note of how much panel travel you have before bottem'ing it out

 

Which bolts should be replaced? When you say caliper bolts I think of the ones that hold the caliper to the bracket on the rotor.

 

Anybody?

 

Bueller?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sparknblaze &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Here's the situation with my 95 EX accord wagon. I press the brake while driving and it gradually sinks to the floor. Especially while I'm sitting at a light, I'll have to pump the pedal to get the pressure back up. I already read through the returned searches and found that this is likely a brake master cylinder but I have another issue which I would like to know if this is also associated...</TD></TR></TABLE>

A pedal that sinks to the floor is usually caused by a loss of fluid pressure in the brake system. The master could be shot, but it can also be that you blew a line or something. Did this start instantaniously, or was this gradual? Did you notice that you are losing brake fluid from either a wheel, or at the master itself?

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sparknblaze &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">While driving sometimes I apply the brake and it feels like only one side of the car is braking. I can tell best when braking hard from 10mph to zero the car pulls to one side. I read in another post someone said to change some bolt on the caliper or something like that but I need reliable info. Will the master cylinder/ bleeding solve both these issues or do I need new front calipers?</TD></TR></TABLE>

It could be that your pulling problem is related. Like i said, if you blew a line, it could manifest itself as a pull on the opposite side... But it can also be a seizing caliper. If you look at the caliper, you will see that it is held in place with 2 bolts. Look closely, and you will see that the caliper, when brakes are applied, is supposed to glide in order to press on the rotor. If it does not do this properly, then you need to at least try to lube it with high temp grease, anti seize. But sometimes, that don't work and you need to replace the caliper.

So in sum, i would start by looking around for evidence of a busted line, spots of brake fluid, check if fluid squirts out when pedal is pressed and such first. If none is found. Then i guess, you need to replace the damaged components.

fs

 

It was a gradual problem that began last summer on a really hot day. I went to step on the brakes in mild stop and go traffic and the pedal went to the floor. I began pumping the brakes and pressure returned to normal but periodically would sink while constant pressure is applied to the pedal. The pulling during braking was noticed about a couple months ago. I was figuring the calipers are about ten years old now and I should go ahead and replace them but I was trying to check into this "bolt" solution to see if maybe I could get some more time out of them. I have not noticed any fluid loss though. Thanks for your input.