Alright, I'm on a tight budget here so chances are it's gonna have to wait but I need help working out what to look at on my brakes... The pedal is a little soft on the first pump, it travels to about an inch from the floor but if I take my foot off and pump it again it gains about 2-3 inches of travel and grabs earlier. Leave it for a minute and the problem comes back. Is this a sign of a slow leak or of the master going bad? Or just air in the system? I've half looked under it and there's no OBVIOUS leaks from any of the drums as if it's a wheel cylinder leading me to think it's the master. I'll have to do a real check whenever the heck I find time but thought I'd get the masters input from here first so I can at least know where to start. I plan on bleeding and adjusting all 4 corners when I have the time to do it but then this just started on me today...
Sounds to me like you have air in the system and you need to bleed your brakes. A slow leak anywhere would cause the pedal to slowly travel down to the floor, same as a leaky seal inside the master cylinder. Bleed them really well and then see how the pedal feels...bleeding is the cheapest and easiest thing to do, so I woukd try it first. If that doesnt work then try adjusting the shoes out until you have a little bit of drag when you spin the wheel. Excessive clearance from the shoe to the drum can also cause a low pedal. Hope this helps, let us know how it turns out! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
What car? If brakes are adjusted correctly then sounds like you're compressing air to get a better pedal.
Sounds like you need to bleed the lines,,,remember as your brakes wear the wheel cylinders have to expand more. Your master cylinder may have gotten low enough to **** air and contaminate the lines. I would suggesting not waiting until you have time,check them now before you need to panic stop after that air headed kid playing on a cell phone pulls out in front of you. HRP
Symtoms say it can be two things: Air in the system, or if the shoe adjustment is way off, it will do the same thing, and feel the same.
That's what I thought may have happened or the master had busted a seal, I hate messing with brakes so I figured some guidance would be nice. I'm not gonna wait long, I just need to get it home from work tonight and then find time to get it in on a lift next week.
What sort of car is it? Stock brakes? If all drums adjust them all up then bleed the whole system and see what happeneds. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
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