zeppelindrummer Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 So the last two weeks or so, in the morning when i'd be on my way to work, my pathfinder's brakes would not work really at all the first time i would try and use them. After one push, and a pump or two they seemed to gain enough pressure to work fine, and i figured i would just need to bleed them, and they would be fine. Today though i bled them (Only the front, the backs were a pain, and i wanted to see if just the front would do the trick, plus it was getting dark) anyway, the braking is still awful. There is hardly any pressure when i press on the pedal and it takes quite a while for my pathy to come to a stop, which it does, eventually do. I checked the master cylinder and it doesn't seem to have any leaks. there is obvious gunk around the seals though, but i'm pretty sure it's always been like that. When i first got this pathy the brakes were a huge improvement to my old pathfinder, and pretty much any other car i had ever driven. and now they are just awful. Since i got the pathfinder, it has had the squeaky brakes, telling me i need new pads, and the rotors are not in the greatest shape either, there is no bump or jiggle or anything when braking, which leads me to believe it could not necessarily be the rotors or brake pads?! ... am i wrong? I was planning on replacing my brake pads once it warmed up a little bit more, but i may have to do it sooner than hoped? Or is the problem most likely the master cylinder? Thanks! -Zepp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nunya Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 could be a worn master, only stopping on 1 axle wort of brakes but you need to bleed all 4 corners. If you got soem air lurking in the back, it ain't gonna go away by bleeding the front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tungsten Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 if you have an aftermarket master brake cylinder theres your problem make sure you got a real Nissan one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeppelindrummer Posted February 4, 2010 Author Share Posted February 4, 2010 it's a genuine nissan master... and i feel ya, i'll try and get the backs done tomorrow... well i'll do the whole thing again tomorrow to see if that's the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tungsten Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 yea bleed it and make sure you have some pad left over otherwise you are looking at new rotors or possibly even new calipers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeppelindrummer Posted February 4, 2010 Author Share Posted February 4, 2010 Because the rotors were so crappy to begin with, i had planned on replacing everything. (Rotors, Calipers, Pads) but i did not plan on the master cylinder. I can't bleed them tomorrow, because i work a double, but friday i will get on it, and hopefully get to the bottom of the problem. Thanks again -Zepp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSlowReliable Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 sounds like a more severe version of whatever I got. I've noticed a wet spot on the inlet for the brake line on my rear drum, and my booster is covered in brake fluid stain (assuming master cylinder)... If you decide to replace everything, look @ getting loaded calipers, oreillys auto parts had some name-brand for like $60 per side w/nice pads and everything.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuong Nguyen Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 I've never had to replace a caliper on my truck.... but anyhow, sounds like your brake master cylinder is going out but don't go buy one until you're for sure. Make you're not losing any brake fluid. If you are, you have a leak somewhere and you need to trace it down and fix the problem. Bleeding steps: ABS sensor (mid center on passenger inner frame rail) Rear right Rear left Front right front left. You're bleeding from farthest to closest to the MC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeppelindrummer Posted February 5, 2010 Author Share Posted February 5, 2010 So theres no leak around the Master cylinder still, but i forgot that my "ABS" light came on relatively recently, and since then, the brakes have been getting worse. It never even crossed my mind, that it could be my ABS system? i honestly didn't even know i had them. Do you guys think that could be the problem? I Didn't have a chance to check it out myself yet, because i just got home from work, and it's nearly 9. -Zepp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrimGreg Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 Pull the cap off the MC and then pop out the screen. Have someone pump the brake and watch the fluid for bubbling. When my brakes got soft a fellow Nissan owner friend did that to mine, and there was a bunch of bubbles, like a shaken soda. So, I didn't have a fluid leak, but I was pumping a ton of air into the system. New MC and all better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 Men, do you find that your braking is occasionally soft and unresponsive? You need our new Firmal suppliment... Sorry, couldn't help it. I'm going with the MC or a brake line. You either have a leak, MC blow by or bubbles in the lines or a seperated line that bubbles when you step on the pedal. It's not unheard of and is rarely checked for. It only takes a few minutes with someones assistance... B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeppelindrummer Posted February 5, 2010 Author Share Posted February 5, 2010 lol no B, my pathy does not need viagra. I just checked the MC like Grim said, and there weren't bubbles in the reservoir. I'm gonna go bleed the brakes again. I just tried driving it, and there is pretty much NO stopping power whatsoever, which is very frustrating. Im going to bleed the system, last time the rear bleeders were really tight, and i didn't wanna brake them (no pun intended) haha so i waited til i had some liquid wrench to lube em up a little bit. Back to the pathy... luckily it's not snowing, like it is in every surrounding city. -Zepp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeppelindrummer Posted February 5, 2010 Author Share Posted February 5, 2010 Wow, i can't believe this..... My silly pun, turned into complete reality, and i broke the passenger rear bleeder off, i could tell it seemed to be pretty soft, but it just... broke, right off. Looks like i'm going to be pathfinderless for longer than expected. Hopefully no snow comes any time soon.... SOB -Zepp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 Damn, sorry to hear. Do you have disk or drum rear? If it is disk, at least it is not hard to remove the caliper so you can work on it inside. If it is drum, you may just want to buy a wheel cylinder to save yourself too much trouble. You can usually squeeze it in without taking off the whole brake shoe assembly, just releasing the springs. Otherwise easy out is your next option... B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 Pull the ABS fuse and see if your braking improves. Mine had an intermittent problem with little/no pedal pressure which resulted in my ABS light turning on. Pulling the fuse fixed my braking, and I still haven't had the time to fiddle with the actual problem. Hopefully it's an easy fix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeppelindrummer Posted February 5, 2010 Author Share Posted February 5, 2010 Yeah it's Drum in the rear.... i just went to get the parts, but they have to special order them. This is turning into a huge hassle. i have a brand new pack of easy outs i got for christmas, but it seems kinda useless to try and remove the broken bleeder screw, if i don't have a new one to put in right now. Plus i'm having a Murphy's law kind of month... so i'm not exactly in the greatest mood. i'll probably end up putting a screwdriver through my door just kidding, haha, but this blows. I told my dad what was going, and now i feel bad, cuz i was pretty bummed, and he told me that somebody used his SS number to do their taxes, so now he has to go through a bunch of crap to deal with this identity theft, AND him and my mom don't get their refund which they definitely need... My problem seems a bit smaller... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrimGreg Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 Yeah, it is usually easier in the long run to just get a new wheel cylinder. I broke the passenger rear off on my 88 and replaced the WC on it, the same one on my 93 won't budge, haven't broke it off, yet, but didn't push hard enough to do so either this time. I stil have a little softer pedal on my 93 than my 88, but I think I just have some air in the passenger rear on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenStoked Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 (edited) did you break it off so the fluid would leak? if so, try and find a way to plug it. I know it's late, but it'll save you alot of hastle, as every single ounce of fluid in your system will start destroying other stuff in the system from water absorption (seen it happen before...) Edited February 6, 2010 by BenStoked Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeppelindrummer Posted February 11, 2010 Author Share Posted February 11, 2010 So the braking is fixed! it was just air in the lines, i replaced the wheel cylinders, which is where the rear bleeder attaches, and i bled the brakes. Good as new! Thanks for the input guys, kept me from going out and buying an unneeded master cylinder. -Zepp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 Sorry for the hassle, but glad we helped and you are back on the road... B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeppelindrummer Posted February 12, 2010 Author Share Posted February 12, 2010 Thanks B! the help is much appreciated! -Zepp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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