96 Accord brake troubles, need help ASAP!

[StrangerXLT]

I need to figure this out ASAP as i have to commute an hour each way to work every day and this isnt a minor issue. At very random times, when i go to stop my brake pedal is easy to push down and i get barely any stopping power...the power doesnt come back until i let the pedal come back up and push a second time. this happens when going 50 or even while sitting stopped at a light...the pedal just turns to mush and i start to roll.

afaik, this would be either the master cylinder or the brake booster...but im not a mechanic nor do i know that much about cars, let alone their braking systems. heres what i need to know if someone would be kind enough to answer...

what is causing this?
how do i fix it?
can i do it myself?
how much should it cost?

i know thats alot to ask but if anyone CAN answer them all then why not..
thank you in advance...

 

[martin]

Did you check the fluid level in the master cylinder?

 

[StrangerXLT]

fluid level was good last time i checked so yeah. also, how would i go about replacing a bleeder bolt on a caliper that the head broke off of and the top is flush now?

 

[BeaterMan]

sounds like a hyraulic leak. if you can check the rear drum wheel cylinders, the calipers and related hoses for signs of a leak. otherwise i'd suspect the master cylinder.

if it is the m/c you could do it yourself. a new one usually goes from $30-100 and can be done it half hour if ya know wat your doing. you would wana bench bleed the m/c befor putting it in the vehicle then after you get it installed and all the lines hooked up, bleed all four wheels until you get a steady stream of brake fluid comming out of all the bleeder screws. good luck

 

[snake]

Try an easy out on the caliper bleeder that is broken off.

The braking problem sounds like the booster to me, but just guessing. Be sure and let us know what it was when you get it figured out.

 

[StrangerXLT]

rear brakes are disc, it has ABS too i believe. i dont think its a leak since the fluid level hasnt changed in over a month. should i try to find a booster or master cylinder from a jyard? i dont have the money or desire to spend any on this car...it needs to last me 6 months until i have enough for a better car saved up.

 

[BeaterMan]

i personally wouldn't trust hydraulic brake components from the junk yard. thats just something i dont like doing when dealing with my saftey.

 

[snake]

Try clamping the vacuum hose to the booster with vise-grips and drive it in a vacant parking lot- see how it acts without the booster working. (it should be hard as hell to stop it) If that's how it is acting intermittently when unclamped, my guess would be the booster. You could probably score one at the boneyard- but I would compare prices. If not too much difference, get a rebuilt one.

 

[StrangerXLT]

thanks for all the help, i just need to figure out which hose is the vacuum hose and ill try that tomorrow after work.

 

[snake]

Its the only hose that goes to the booster... a big mo-fo about the size of your thumb.

 

[StrangerXLT]

it is not the brake booster, clamping that hose caused the brakes to be very stiff and little braking power. as described, it goes very easily to the floor with limited brake power and it continues to fade until it hits the floor, letting the pedal up and pushing again gives normal braking power. im guessing its the master cylinder at this point...hopefully its not too hard to do myself cuz i dont have alot of money right now.

 

[snake]

As long as you are not leaking fluid at any wheel, and the fluid isn't low in the master, I'll bet you're right- the master is shot...

 

[StrangerXLT]

so now i have to order parts, not sure who/where i should order from though. i wanna do this cheap as possible because i only need the master to last me about 4-5 months until i get my new car. i found remanufactured ones at carpartswholesale for fairly cheap, i was hoping maybe to find one in a junkyard though

 

[rurouni20xx]

the old fluid in the jy can ruin the seals in it, dont waste your time and money on it, get a new/reconditioned one. condensation also ruins these parts by pitting the cylinder. id bleed the piss out of them and pump it up all the way w/ the engine dead and see if it bleeds down while standing on the brake. if it goes down slowly check for fluid, if none then its the cylinder, if it doesnt move then its not the cylinder, its the booster.