Hey guys, my car developed this odd braking characteristic the other day, every time I step on the brakes there's this hard empty feeling for a second then the pedal sinks down a little bit more and the brakes finally engages, no matter how hard or soft I step on the brake pedal it still happens.. it makes me feel uneasy because when I need to instantly stop IE panic brake the car won't stop instantly... any thoughts?

 

Sounds like a booster problem, but I admit it's one I've never experienced.

 

poop, I hope not... me neither, very odd... I'll check the vacuum line tomorrow to see if thats the issue.. thanks for the reply!

 

I had an issue like that 32 years ago on a Mustang. Turned out it was the booster (sorry)

 

alright I guess I'll look into replacing the booster, thanks for the reply!

 

Doesn't sound like booster to me..


If booster wasn't working it would feel very hard to stop the car; i.e. not getting any brake assist. Get an expert opinion before you just throw a booster in there..

 

You need to get the experts opinion urgently.
Dangerous driving it around like that.

 

Here's my thinking. I am just taking at face value that it takes time as described by the OP.

When you're not braking, there is vacuum on both sides of a big diaphragm. When you step on the brakes, you dump air into the back side of the diaphragm, which takes time. The air pushes on the brakes. Normally, this happens fast enough that you don't notice the delay.

 

could be a lot of things. Brake booster, master cylinder, proportion valve, brake line, or vacuum line. Don't just throw parts/money at the problem, get it diagnosed. Stopping is somewhat important.

 

I was thinking the best option for him to get it diagnosed was people in the this forum. Obviously we have two different philosophies at work on that.

I have never formed the opinion that professional mechanics could diagnose things. But you all may have had different experiences.

 

much harder to diagnose something over the internet with no sounds, pictures, or ability to drive it and feel what he's experiencing than it is for someone in person. MUCH harder.

 

Can see where your coming from firebirdparts but if he has to make an emergency stop and fast, it just aint going to happen. Someone could get injured or even die.
In such a case the diagnosis is needed ASAP.
You can still do the repair yourself if you wish to for cost savings.

 

Thanks for the replies everyone. Anyways, it feels like pushing air through a tight hole, that's the best description i could think of... i dont feel any issues once the brakes kicks in though. I'll get a specialist to take look at it tomorrow.

 

I have this same exact issue. It's a hard pedal for just a fraction of a second then it's just fine, although a little slow, the rest of the way down. It takes a little more pedal effort than I'm used to as well which leads me to believe it's a booster problem myself. I know that all the calipers and lines are fine, the only things I don't know for certain are the master cylinder and booster. I'm thinking booster on this one.