ive had trouble with my brakes since i got this car. i got them going enough to drive it, but i dont always feel safe. anyway, here's the problem's

#1. Coming to a stop, hitting the brakes, good pressure, stopping well. Downshift and all the sudden they start to fall towards the floor, getting really soft. It doesnt fall all the way to the floor, but i would hate for it to happen if i needed to stop quickly.

#2. Ive parked the car for a couple hours. Ebrake on and in gear. I come out to my car and go to start it...the brake pedal is hard and i cant push it (feels like i was pumping the brakes while the car is off)


do you guys think its the MC? Booster? both mabey?

thanks guys

 

If your pedal falls to the floor with constant pressure, you need a Master Cylinder. The hard pedal when the engine's not running's pretty normal.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MasterKwan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If your pedal falls to the floor with constant pressure, you need a Master Cylinder. The hard pedal when the engine's not running's pretty normal. </TD></TR></TABLE>

no. if i stop my car and pump the brakes, it will get hard after a couple pumps. it shouldnt be hard without pumping at all. so there is a problem there.

 

Sounds like the booster...anybody care to back me up or correct me?

 

If it was the booster, I don't think there'd be any power assist. It could go either way. He said the pedal went down in the first post.

If it was me, I'd replace both and be done with it. It's such a hassle to do the booster, you might as well do both at the same time. It's like replacing the water pump when you do a timing belt.

 

Pump your pedal, get some pressure, then hold it down, like youre braking to a stop.
If it slowly sinks to the floor - bad MC.
If it stays constant, you do not have a leak - I would try flushing the system (if you havent already).
If that doesnt work, and your fluid level stays constant, I would look at the booster (though, Ive never seen one go bad...that doesnt mean it cant happen...I just havent seen it [and i am no expert])