Recently, I replaced my front pads and rotors on my 98 SE, also cleaned and adjusted the rear shoes and drums. Now that the rears are adjusted, the parking brake has some real good tension on it to get it to click, yet my brake pedal still goes down pretty far when I hit the brakes. The car stops okay, but the petal goes down quite far and if I am sitting at an intersection, I can push the pedal all the way to the floor without too much effort.

When I replaced the front brakes, I bled them twice. Left first, right next, then left then right again. There should be no air in the lines and it has plenty of fluid. Any thoughts?

It'* time to replace your Master Cylinder, NOW!!!

Before you replace anything, I'd suggest you bleed all four wheels in the proper order. If there is air anywhere in the system, you can get that symptom. Check a manual for the 98 model because I'm not sure of the order, but it'* usually right front, left front, right rear, left rear. Verify the proper order for you car, tho. There may also be a procedure for bleeding the proportioning valve (if it has one).

Are you losing brake fluid at all? It doesn't take much of a leak to give that symptom, either.

Let me qualify that - if you ask most folks, they tell you to start at the corner of the car with the longest run back to the master cylinder, usually the right rear. Just wanted to throw that in because nothing is universal wehn it comes to modern brakes. Hence why I say to make sure with a manual.

I called up the local friendly dealer, and he says Right Rear, Right Front, Left Rear, Left Front for a '98 SE. Even more bizarre. Check it out in a manual to verify.

rhamby,

thanks for your reply. I will give that a shot. I'll also let you know the outcome.