Sorry that I keep reviving these old topics, but have any of you figured this out? My brakes have been bled and topped off, and my pads are at about 80%.

When I hit the brakes, I feel nothing at all for probably 1.5 inches. Then, the pedal stiffens and the car will begin to slow down. If I push further, it gets so stiff that it feels like I'm about to lock the wheels.

 

Check the vacuum hose that goes to the brake booster.

My braking tightens up in the cold, so they were saying that i might have cracks so when it's cold, the hose will shrink and work better. I want to check but I have no clue where the brake booster is.. [&o]

 

The 1.5" play is nothing to be concerned. If the play is more than 2-3" with new pads & rotors, I believe the master cylinder is wearing out. However, on 850s this may be normal, as there are people who have the same symptom of brake pedal having 3" of play until the brakes kick in.

Attached is the location of the brake booster. Most cars have similar-looking booster, attached right behind the master cylinder.


JPN

[IMG]local://upfiles/6892/93B2B7ADA59B4F19BD46C2710DD7879D.jpg[/IMG]

 

Thanks for the pic Kanji.

Which hose should I look for? Is it under the reservoir or what?

 

No prob.

Generally the booster hose is attached to somewhere along the intake system, as the booster uses a part of intake suction & atmospheric pressure difference. Try to look for a hose that looks like it carries air.

I hope this helps.


Kanji/JPN

P.S: I work for an airline that has the HQ in Minneapolis, and a couple of Japanese guys will be there for a month to get Boeing 777 training. My chance would probably never come, due to politics[8D].

 

Hey Kanji,
So if I was umm, dyslexic would I pronounce your company WestNorth???

 

Got it right, though I'd better not say it out loud myself[8D].

It's not like working in the States. Working with J@p@nese people takes so much out of you, even if it were a U.S carrier. I won't even get into the details or I would end up writing a 1,000-page essay[8D].

Anyway, I hope people can solve brake problems with too much free play. I once tried to replace the flexible brake hoses and did not succeed. For fronts, the union connection got rounded, even though I used flare-nut wrench. I then resorted to Vise-grip violence to no avail. The rears were even worse, I think you'd have to drop the delta-link transverse arms to gain full access to the union joints.

Even Tech said the rears are a pain.


Kanji/JPN

 

'

Hm....Does the booster use a rubber vaccuum hose? Because I looked at the brake fluid resevoir, and the lines coming off of it were metallic. Although, there was something that was loomed together...

 

Yes they're usually rubber hose. The booster is also called "servo" or "master bag".

See attached pic, it may help. The pic will be gone in a few days as usual, but you have the same pic in your manual.

EDIT: The booster hose is not attached to the master cylinder; it is directly mounted on the booster.

Kanji/JPN

EDIT: Deleted Attachment. Will upload again upon request.