OK if this has been asked before I'm sorry, I did a search and couldn't find anything on it. My problem is almost everytime I break hard the car will brake but slowly as if I'm not pressing the pedal all the way. No matter how hard I hit the brake it slows down slowly. I don't know how many times I've been lucky that I've stopped about an inch away from hitting the car in front of me. I have new brake pads and rotors and I just had my calipers changed about 2 months ago, I don't have ABS, and I'm using DOT 3 brake fluid, I've had the same problem using DOT 5 so I don't think it's the fluid. I've the same prob even before getting the calipers changed so I don't think it should be the calipers. My calipers and rotors are OEM, and the pads are Raybestos pads from Pep Boys, I also had the problem with other pads which name I can't remember. I know I should've had it checked out a while ago but my stupid ass always forgets when I'm at the mechanics . Any clues as to what it may be? TIA

- Oscar

It shouldn't be the brake pads.

Is it so bad that it feels like you no longer have power brakes?

Mine is doing the same thing (just ordered fr and rr GSX brakes), but i think its either the brake solenoid, or from f*cking with the calipers so much.



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How far can you push the pedal after the pads first push against the rotors? You should be able to feel first contact (about 1" of pedal travel)... then use a ruler and let us know how much further down you can push the pedal with your hand from that point.

If you can push it another 1"+ you probably have air in the lines, and need to bleed the brakes correctly. Air compresses, fluid doesn't.

Also check the obvious stuff if you haven't already, like even pad wear, fluid level, cap tightness.

>How far can you push the pedal after the pads first push
>against the rotors? You should be able to feel first contact
>(about 1" of pedal travel)...

That's the thing, I feel no force feedback. When i slam on the brakes it'll go down as far as it can easily, I don't feel any resistance.

Edit: I only feel resistance in the last 1/2" of pedal travel.
Also I guess a way to describe the feeling would be like when your bicycle brake line is slack, it'll brake but you feel no/minimal resistance.

>Feels like an old ass car with shitty manual brakes, doesn't
>it?
>
>I think it's something to do with your power brake booster
>(that big round thing behind the master cylinder on the
>firewall). Check the vaccuume line going to the check valve
>on the booster, and check the check valve itself for breaks
>and cracks.
>
>Pull the line and the valve out of the booster, cover the
>opening on the valve with your thumb, and have some start the
>car. There should be hard suction on the line. If all that
>checks out, your brake lines under the car check out, your
>pads, calipers, pedal linkage, and everything else checks
>out...
>
>...then I think you my friend will soon get to experience the
>UTTER ABSOLUTE JOY of spending some quality
>time upside down and underneath the dashboard and under the
>hood while replacing a power brake booster.

I'll have to try that tomorrow.

Thanks for all the help guys.

- Oscar

>That's the thing, I feel no force feedback. When i slam on
>the brakes it'll go down as far as it can easily, I don't feel
>any resistance.
>
>Edit: I only feel resistance in the last 1/2" of pedal
>travel.
>Also I guess a way to describe the feeling would be like when
>your bicycle brake line is slack, it'll brake but you feel
>no/minimal resistance.

Ahh... I'm an ass for not asking you to clarify the pedal feel earlier, but I was in a hurry to get out of work and get home. That's my fault, and I shouldn't have done that. I'm still an ass though

THIS sounds like air in the lines, and a lot of it. Get a big bottle of brake fluid or two, and a friend to help you out, and bleed the system out. I bet things will be much better for you afterwards.

< THIS sounds like air in the lines, and a lot of it. Get a big bottle of brake fluid or two, and a friend to help you out, and bleed the system out. I bet things will be much better for you afterwards.

Thanks ma , I haven't had time to do it yet, but I'm gonna try tomorrow.

- Oscar

> My problem is almost
>everytime I break hard the car will brake but slowly as if I'm
>not pressing the pedal all the way. No matter how hard I hit
>the brake it slows down slowly.

Feels like an old ass car with shitty manual brakes, doesn't it?

I think it's something to do with your power brake booster (that big round thing behind the master cylinder on the firewall). Check the vaccuume line going to the check valve on the booster, and check the check valve itself for breaks and cracks.

Pull the line and the valve out of the booster, cover the opening on the valve with your thumb, and have some start the car. There should be hard suction on the line. If all that checks out, your brake lines under the car check out, your pads, calipers, pedal linkage, and everything else checks out...

...then I think you my friend will soon get to experience the UTTER ABSOLUTE JOY of spending some quality time upside down and underneath the dashboard and under the hood while replacing a power brake booster.

I think he said that the pedal felt soft. If it was the booster the pedal would feel hard. I would check the fluid and bleed the brakes.