Braking issues

[Guest halbbd01]

Ok, my brakes have gotten worse and worse over the last 6 months. My pathy used to stop on a dime. I have new pads on the front. I just replaced them maybe 4k miles ago. This really didn't helping my stopping at all.

 

Sometimes I can stop pretty quick, other times I barely roll to a stop. Last week I took it into hires(it was free) they said my master cylinder was not leaking. I can however push my pedal all the way to the floor.

 

What really doesn't make sense to me is sometimes they're ok and other times they're awful. THe other day I tried to stop at a yellow light and put them to the floor and I came to a rolling stop that didn't even lock up my seatbelt or make my car go forward on the springs.

 

Any suggestions? I'm going to take it in to the nissan dealership this week if I can't figure out what is wrong.

 

Thanks in advance for the help

[Simon]

Bleed the brakes first. It's simple, costs nothing, other than some brake fluid, and could very well be your issue. I had a caliper that stuck, and I had to remove it to free it up, and when I put it back in, I had no pedal pressure. I just opened up all the bleeders, watched the level on the reservoir, and as soon as fluid started pouring out of a bleeder, I'd close it up......On the WD21's, though, 4 wheel ABS isn't an issue, so that bleeding procedure may not work.

 

You can, however, bleed the regular way (you'll need someone to assist) and see if that helps.

[fordsho90]

check your calipers also you might have a small leak

[Guest halbbd01]

A couple more things. It's a 98 LE with 4x4 if that matters.

 

I have no leaks whatsoever. My fluid has been the same since I've owned it.

 

Thanks for the advise guys. I appreciate it. I'll try bleeding it and see what happens.

[Precise1]

Well, that bides the question, how long have you had it ?? Yes, start by bleeding the system (read replace the fluid).

 

B

[94extreme]

how many miles on the truck? if you can hear a girgling sound emmiting from the vac assist on the MC then i bet that's what it is.. the symptoms you desribe lead me to believe that the MC may be your problem. good luck.. bleed it first.. if no different then do the MC.. save your money. don't go to the stealer.

[Slick]

as above..bleed the system.. also.. check your wheel (brake) cylinders in the back (do you have all wheel disk or rear drum?)...... i have 1 leaky one but it doesn't leak enuff to hit the ground but enuff to fubar my brakes

[Guest SHAWNATGERBROCK]

Yea, check the rears ..if they are bad , it can have a bad affect .... sounds like possably a bad Master cylinder ....or possably a bad caliper ...Just because it isnt leaking doesnt mean the internal seals may not be bad ....Do a good bleading first ...if that doesnt help its probably a M/C ...

[87pathy]

Every bad master cylinder i have seen had those symptoms. The key symptom is that sometimes its ok, and sometimes its Awful. my old ford, my buddies mazda, my dads chev.. ya.. i'd start there.

if it was a "brake" problem it would be consistant.

[Manik]

Definitely sounds like an internal leak in my MC. Do yourself a favor and purchase a brake bleeding system of some sort. I built one out of an old hand vacuum tester and it worked perfectly for my brakes and clutch.

The vacuum bleeders can be purchased for about $50 or so.

 

 

Bubba.....

[Manik]

Stuck or sticking calipers will usually yield a pull to the left or right and not be an intermittent problem.

More of my 2 cents.

 

 

Bubba.....