heres the story. ive had my crx for about 3 years now, never did anymore maintenance to the brake system besides rotors,pads and topping off the brake fluid everyonce in a while.

this past week the brake pedal started sinking to the floor and the car isnt stopping. ill let off and start pumping the brakes and it will finally start braking right. my guess is the original brake booster is finally giving up. i checked it and the cap was on tight, fluid level was right on, and didnt notice any leaks. any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. thanks

 

if you had to add brake fluid, and your pedal goes to the floor, it points to a leak in the system.

the other two things it could be if it sinks to the floor are a bad master cylinder or air in the lines.

but i doubt you have air in the lines, because it hasn't been apart, and if the level goes down, i doubt its the master cylinder.

now, looking for the leak, i'll tell you a couple places where the brake lines usually rust through, but remember that the wheel cylinders and caliper pistons can leak too.

my car started leaking where the brake lines come out of the car in the rear wheel well. jack up the car and check that on both sides by grabbing it, seeing if it bends out of the way, slide the boot around and look for fluid, etc.

i guess check the front in the same place, while you're at it.

when you're under the back (i assume you have rear drum brakes) follow the rubber hoses down, and then it'll go to metal for a few inches. look at how rusted that is, and see if its leaking.

if both of those prove fine, pull the drums off the back, and look for brake fluid around the rear cylinders, and then check the calipers too while you're at it.

if all of this checks out fine, then its leaking somewhere else or your master cylinder is dying.

but your booster, even if bad, will not make your brakes go to the floor.

 

its a 91 si so i got disks in the back. im gonna check every line, calipers and all that good stuff on the weekend while i put my new motor in. thanks for the info

 

its your master. check for rust under the master on the booster. that would be where your loosing fluid.

 

sorry, correction to my post up there, i just said it probably wasn't that because i've only seen one of those go bad around here, but i've seen like 5 or 6 with the brake line problems (including mine at one point) and i was looking at the fact that he lives somewhat up north.

but, yes, you're right, it could easily be either.

 

now the brakes are making a whining noise, and i dont think theres any leaks, im stumped.

 

the reason pedal fades.... you brake master is leaking internally thus the seal canot hold pressure and pedal sinks to floor it is worse in hot weather or middle of the day ,,put a new master in there use factory part or adler being using hundreds of them never had a problem and are cheaper than factory do not get from autozone or checker or pep boys
make sure you bench bleed master cylinder before you install it and then just bleed brakes normally