Brake pedal feel....

[KivaKid]

OK, I just got the parents '77 Wag back from the shop. Something went bad (bearing maybe) in the right portion of the front axle, and it all had to be torched out and replaced (YIKES!). Anyway, I told them to check the brakes as well because I thought the pedal was hard to push. They said they were OK. They still feel hard to me. My '76 Wag's brakes are way different than my parents '77 Wag's brakes. If I slam them I can lock up a little, but stop very quickly. My parents cannot stop like this. It takes effort to stop. Now, I know both Wags have power brakes. Could this just be differences in master cylinders, or is their's failing? Or is there an adjustment??

[ February 26, 2003, 06:23 PM: Message edited by: KivaKid ]

[KivaKid]

BTT....??

[kidatforty]

Sounds like brake booster to me. Could be oil on linings. If you do service yourself, check the service manual for procedures or... back to the shop. What do the rest of you guys think? We don't want anyone getting hurt!

[Glenn_tx]

I'm no mechanic but I'd check the vacuum supply to the brake booster or the booster itself. Is the pedal the same when the engine isn't running?

[Stuka]

does the engine die down when you push the brake pedal? of the booster is going bad it normally causes a vacuum leak when pushing the brakes.

[KivaKid]

I'll have to check this stuff, thanks for the replies! The engine is unaffected by the brakes....

[ February 27, 2003, 07:59 AM: Message edited by: KivaKid ]

[J4GRAND]

A hard pedal usually indicates a bad brake booster or at least it did on my J4000.