It takes about half the travel of the brake pedal to engage the brakes.
The brakes are strong and no problem stopping.

My mechanic says it needs a master cylinder to get "full pedal" on the brakes.

Is this normal for the brakes to enguage after half the travel of the pedal?
Or is the mechanic just wanting to hang parts on the car unnecessarily?

 

That sort of pedal travel is normal for the 89 and later cars with the Teves ABS system.

And it's time to get another mechanic- your car doesn't have a master cylinder. The brakes on these cars are driven by a hydraulic pump and not the power of pressing the brake pedal. Sounds like your mechanic is too up on the difference (and it's HUGE)

 

THANK YOU for the great information!

 

lol mine is like this except its and 88 and does have one and i think i am only stopping on my fronts, its kinda of ****ty.

i first started driving and it stopped on a dime. When it got on the dyno for emissions the guy couldn't stop the car.

So now my car has crap brakes.
what do?

 

Since yours has an ordinary brake system all the ordinary checks will do. I'd start with seeing if the rear caliper pistons are seized. Pull the pads and try levering the pistons back into the calipers.

Cheers
DD