Soft brake pedal, but good brakes...

Kiddi J · Post by **Kiddi J** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 8:55 am

Hi,

All of a sudden the brake pedal on my car started to be really soft. It has been more than a year since i changed my brake pads and this has never happened before.

My car has drum brakes in the rear so my father suggested it need to be tighten up back there ?

Anyone had this before and has a solution. ?

INVUJerry · Post by **INVUJerry** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 9:06 am

It could be a soft hose failing. Try putting a vice grip on each corner, moving it around to see if they firm up any time. If they do a line is bad. I'd replace all 4 to be safe.

Kiddi J · Post by **Kiddi J** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 9:16 am

I´ll try that. Thanks for the assistance.

Post by **occasional demons** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 1:30 pm

Another possibility is the master cylinder failing.

O/T:
IIRC, you had a clunk in your steering column?

This may help if you haven't solved it by now: viewtopic.php?t=60367

Kiddi J · Post by **Kiddi J** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 3:34 am

Thanks,

Did nothing to it, but the travel of the steering whell up and down seems to have stopped some while ago.

But there is always a little rattle in the front suspension even after all the bushings i replaced. A basic Neon syndrome I figure. But as of now its alot of snow here and i can really feel all the rattling. Especially when its cold as the chassis seems really stiff.

Donkeypuncher · Post by **Donkeypuncher** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 4:44 am

Maybe the rear auto-adjuster or wheel cylinder?

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 8:47 pm

Air in the brake lines. Seriously, sometimes they are a real bitch to get rid of.

Post by **occasional demons** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 8:59 pm

Donkeypuncher wrote:Maybe the rear auto-adjuster or wheel cylinder?

Bad adjusters would make the pedal travel farther.

If the wheel cylinders are dry, they are good. They can't leak internally like the master cylinder. It can leak internally, and externally. Where it mounts to the booster will be wet if it is external.

If the fluid has absorbed moisture , it could get air in the calipers from boiling the water. If you see no leaks, and the rear adjusters are functioning, try flushing the old fluid out, by bleeding all four corners until you get nice fresh fluid from each location. If it doesn't firm up, it may be the MC.

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 10:22 pm

Adjust the drums, take a little fluid out of all corners with a brake bleeder (or a full flush, up to you) and you're good to go.