Soft Brakes
08-30-2006, 10:10 PM
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Soft Brakes
Latley in my car the brakes seem to be really soft...
the peadel goes about 3/4 of the way down before "full breaking power" if i'm sitting at a stop light i have to really push on the break so i don't roll. But then sometimes its hard and all i have to do is put a little weight on the break and im still. I checked the fluid level, its good. Anything else i shoul look at?
the peadel goes about 3/4 of the way down before "full breaking power" if i'm sitting at a stop light i have to really push on the break so i don't roll. But then sometimes its hard and all i have to do is put a little weight on the break and im still. I checked the fluid level, its good. Anything else i shoul look at?
08-30-2006, 10:29 PM
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Soft brake pedal is usually caused by air trapped in the lines. That suggests that you have a leak somewhere. The air got in when fluid ran out somewhere. You need first to check for leaks at all four wheels and you need to look at all the lines, too. Probably best to put it up on a lift for this. The cure is to fix the leak, then bleed the brakes. If you just bleed the brakes, you won't be fixing the problem, just the symptom.
If there is no evidence anywhere of a leak, and the fluid level in the reservoir is steady, then look to the master cylinder. If the pedal goes farther down one time, and then just a little the next, it could be a cup starting to leak in the master cylinder. If the calipers, wheel cylinders, lines and hoses check out OK, then replace the master cylinder, and bleed the brakes.
If there is no evidence anywhere of a leak, and the fluid level in the reservoir is steady, then look to the master cylinder. If the pedal goes farther down one time, and then just a little the next, it could be a cup starting to leak in the master cylinder. If the calipers, wheel cylinders, lines and hoses check out OK, then replace the master cylinder, and bleed the brakes.
08-31-2006, 12:27 AM
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Just to add in to the diagnostics
I would adjust the rear breaks, yours are self adjusting, heres how you do it.
Get up to a good speed in reverse, and firmly step on the breaks..do this three or four times in a parking lot..every time you do this, your star wheel adjuster should advance..rear breaks out of adjustment can account for some slop in the break pedal
I would adjust the rear breaks, yours are self adjusting, heres how you do it.
Get up to a good speed in reverse, and firmly step on the breaks..do this three or four times in a parking lot..every time you do this, your star wheel adjuster should advance..rear breaks out of adjustment can account for some slop in the break pedal
08-31-2006, 06:14 AM
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And to the adjust the rear brakes.. I'll add.
Pull the wheels and do it the old fashioned way the first time. They may be so far out of adjustment it takes you 20 times in reverse to adjust them up. Pull..do it once..then keep them adjusted.
Pull the wheels and do it the old fashioned way the first time. They may be so far out of adjustment it takes you 20 times in reverse to adjust them up. Pull..do it once..then keep them adjusted.
09-02-2006, 09:03 PM
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Originally Posted by BillBoost37
And to the adjust the rear brakes.. I'll add.
Pull the wheels and do it the old fashioned way the first time. They may be so far out of adjustment it takes you 20 times in reverse to adjust them up. Pull..do it once..then keep them adjusted.
Pull the wheels and do it the old fashioned way the first time. They may be so far out of adjustment it takes you 20 times in reverse to adjust them up. Pull..do it once..then keep them adjusted.
Someday, I'll own a car that has four wheel disk brakes so I won't have to do this anymore.
Oh....I just remebered my daughters 2002 New Beetle has discs all around. What a concept!!!
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