delayed stopping by brake pedal

Hello i do not know if it is a firebird thing but every other i've driven when the brake was barely press it would stop the car. But my 86 trans am you almost have to press it half way before it starts to stop the car. Does anyone know what is wrong or if anything is wrong. Might the brake fluid be low?

You probably need new brakes, period...

If the brake materials are good and the rear brakes are well adjusted, the car should stop at a dime. New vehicle have rear calipers and they stop at a dime. On your 86 it probably had rear drums and they have to be adjusted every 15k for the pedal to be nice and high. I hope that info is helpful.

What's the pedal feel like after they start to work? Check the brake fluid often the master cylinder seals could be bad, or wheel cylinders. It could be something a simple as air being in the system.

I had the exact same problem on my 88 camaro, until today I took pcv advice and adjusted the rear brakes, What a difference! try adjusting them you will see a huge difference!!

I have a 1976 firebird, it has rear drum breaks too. i had a similar problem. If when you press the pedal it feels spongy, then its because you have air in your brake lines, then you will need to bleed them. but if you press the pedal down and when it finnaly starts to stop the car it feels solid and not spongy, then i recomend adjusting the rear drums. you wont need to go in there manualy to do this either, just find a parking lot (or empty road) and put it in reverse. back up then slam the brakes on, the rear brakes should ajust themselves after a few time and then you all set to go. good luck.