Brakes will stop car but with much more effort than normal, i know everyone is gonna jump on teh booster bandwagon but its not the booster, if i pump brakes with engine off until pedal is firm and start engine pedal drops like its supposed to, sooooooo.

what it feels like is the brakes are hot, if you have ever driven down a long hill with brakes applied you know what im talking about, and no they arent hot, car has been sitting for two days and is still the same as soon as i pull out of garage, car does not pull to one side, has no trouble pulling away and maintains speed if i let off throttle, im thinking maybe blocked hoses or calipers not applying, but when applying brakes car still does not pull to one side!!!

any ideas???

oh fluid is full too, about 3 years old, but car did sit for 2 years, this happened on friday night, car has been driven about 2000 miles since being back on road!!! could it be the fluid gone bad??

 

When Nix did that to me the front half of the Master Cylinder wasn't working (after only 30 years!) so I only had Rear brakes. The car would stop, but I had to stand on the pedal (that was exciting, topping a hill to find I was coming up on a looooooong line of cars at a stop light). New MC fixed the problem -- Until the booster (probably the same age) gave up the very next week.

It's a pain to change the booster but if it's more than 5 years old I *Highly* recommend changing both "while you're at it."
(';')

 

Elinor makes a vey valid piont.

I would change that fluid, as in FLUSH the system, and work from there.

Down here the fluid should be changed every 2 years MAX, as per the label on the bottle, but who reads instructions , mmm.

It is also a "Service Item" in the Service procedure manual. Just like Power Steer Fluid.

 

I am having this same kind of problem.. only the fade comes and goes.. but when I'm sitting at a light it feels like I'm losing brake pressure an have to either push more on the pedal, or pump alittle but also pulls to the passanger side a wee bit.

 

Definitely master cylinder creep.
If it's pulling to the Right that means the Left brake isn't working correctly. You might want to look into that before something embarrassing happens.
(';')

 

Suspects seem correct then.. I mean it's not horribly noticeable but do have to hold the wheel slight more firm but only under decent amount of brake pressure. I think it's got some slight glazing

 

Three Ideas:


1. Nothing wrong at all. The brakes on my Jeep are much touchier than the ones on my Jaguar. Just more boost on the Jeep!


2. Glazed pads. Need more squeeze to slow the rotor. Just heated in the past. Scuffing might restore them.


3. After a run feel the calipers and or rotors. careful, they should be hot. gloves indicated!!! or a slicker way, IFR!!! A lazy rear caliper, can reduce braking quite abit and not pull!!! A lazy front one, on the other hand, yup, lottsa pull.


Carl

 

The issue has turned out to be the brake booster , all tests say its working but one!! the huge hiss i get while holding brake pedal!!!

oh well, its just money and bloody knuckles!!

 

It's, also, a good idea to upgrade to braided stainless steel brake hoses.
This improves on brake fluid pressures.