1998 Malibu Brake Pedal Travel

Hi there,

I have a 1998 Malibu. When pressing on the brakes for the first time after starting the car the brake pedal almost travels to the floor. After that it seem to build up pressure and be fine for the rest of the trip. Only to occur the next time I start the car.

Can someone please tell me what part is defective. Is it the master cylinder or brake booster?

Thanks.

Al

Here is the method to check the brake booster as described in the Hayes manual:

"Sit in the driver's seat and perform the follow sequence of tests.

WIth the brake fully depresssed, start the engine - the pedal should move down a little when the engine starts.

WIth the engine running, depress the brake pedal several times - the travel distance should not change.

Depress the brake, stop the engine and hold the pedal in for about 30 seconds - the pedal should neither sink nor rise

Restart the engine, run it for about a minute and turn it off. Then firlmly depress the brake several times - the pedal travel should decrease with each application.

If your brakes do not operate as described, the brake booster has failed."

Hayes Repair Manual 38026 Section 1 Pages 19-20

Al, my '98 has never had that problem. I've replaced the rears twice and the fronts once, the last time being both as a result of a weird feeling coming from the rear of the car a few seconds after coming to rest. In addition to discovering that I needed new brakes all-around (very strange), they also discovered severe warpage of the front rotors (which I knew about), and leaking cylinders on the rears (that part was covered by GMPP, the Extended Warranty), and which was also the cause of the feeling "as if someone hit me lightly in the rear".

Funny thing is, after all that work was done (last fall), I didn't notice a smidgen of difference in how the car braked (other than the pulsation from the warped rotors being gone)!! :disappoin

I will try the above mentioned test. Im definately picking up a Chilton manual for this car. I have a feeling it will get plenty of use.

See you in the forums.

Al

Hi Burly,

Upon removed the front drivers side caliper I noticed the in board pad had come off its base and and was snapped in two.

I decided to replace both front rotors, calipers and pads. I went with Raybesto Ceramics. I replaced all the old brake fluid as well.

Pedal is nice and firm now. Im assuming the drivers side caliper must have seized up causing the pad to come off its base.

Al


"Sit in the driver's seat and perform the follow sequence of tests.

WIth the brake fully depresssed, start the engine - the pedal should move down a little when the engine starts.

WIth the engine running, depress the brake pedal several times - the travel distance should not change.

Depress the brake, stop the engine and hold the pedal in for about 30 seconds - the pedal should neither sink nor rise

Restart the engine, run it for about a minute and turn it off. Then firlmly depress the brake several times - the pedal travel should decrease with each application.

If your brakes do not operate as described, the brake booster has failed."

Hayes Repair Manual 38026 Section 1 Pages 19-20[/QUOTE]

Glad its working well now. Let me know how those Ceramics feel and stop, I am heavily considering a set of ceramics for my vehicle.

Hi Burly,

Funny you ask. I just got back in from test driving the new brakes. All I can say is WOW! They are so quiet...no squeals whatsoever. Braking is smooth and predictable. Virtually no fading either. Im going to be doing a brake job on my other vehicle which is a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Im definately going to go ceramics.

Take care.

Al

Most of the newer vehicles are either originally equipped with ceramic pads or are back serviced which is raybestos' way of saying give us more money for the more expensive pads. True ceramics are a little quieter, they definitely don't last as long and do not like hard driving at all. So if you do hard driving don't be surprised when they're just as loud and squeaky as the semi-mets. If this is you go with the carbon mets, They're between regular and ceramic on price and noise, last a little longer than ceramic and are by far the best braking pad I've used on the street. Hope this helps...

I'm not sure I agree with the "definitely don't last as long". Many ceramic pads come with lifetime warranties. My parents have had the same set on their Saturn SL1 for over 80k miles, and the Chevy Blazer they had used ceramics for about 75k miles. I don't know that other compound pads come with lifetime warranties. I'll have to look into that.

Hi DaYtOnAt2,

From what I have been told the Malibu specs ask for ceramic pads. The dealer I purchased my 98 Malibu from did the front brakes prior to me taking delivery of the car. Less than 15,000 KM the drivers side inboard pad came of its base and shredded into two pieces. In addition the front rotors on both sides were warped badly.

With most of the vehicles I have owned in the past my front brakes last anywhere between 50 - 60,000KMS. The only exception has been the Malibu.

Personally I think when it comes to the Malibu ceramics are a must. Anything else seems to wear prematurely and create so much heat the rotors end up warping.

This is my first set of ceramics so I cant comment on longevity. However what I can comment on is my first impressions. These are the quietest pads I have ever had. They feel much more responsive than the semi metalics I am normally accustomed to.

In fact I am so impressed I just picked up another pair for my Jeep. I am going to install them this weekend.

burly- I suppose it's a matter of brand also. The Raybestos ceramics are better than the local jobbers brand of ceramic. But same driver, same driving style ceramics are not going to last as long. Their softer compound just doesn't allow it. Your parents most likely drive (and brake) easier than I do. Also we're not talking about a huge difference in mileage. Even though they have a lifetime warranty, it doesn't mean they're not going to wear out, just that you'll get another set when they do.
blackbird-True the malibu is one of the vehicles originally equipped with ceramic and it is suggested that ceramic be used when performing a brake job. But it is not required. As long as the rotors are machined or new rotors are being used any pad compound can be used safely and with decent results. At my shop we do not as a rule use carbon-mets mainly because of the dust they create. Customers don't want to see their wheels turning black every few weeks. That is really the only real reason we push ceramic pads so much more. With the reasoning that they are quieter, easier on the rotors, etc. Which IS all true but really it's only because they're softer. I used carbon-mets the last time on my malibu and as long as I wash the car every few weeks I don't really get a lot of dust build-up. As far as the pads that were on your malibu becoming unbonded and damaged, it is likely due to the caliper failing. In our cars they use aluminum front calipers with phenolic pistons. They expand and shrink at much different rates so the seal ends up taking a lot of abuse. And on the earlier models like your 98 the piston bore was not anodized to prevent corrosion. So any condensation that is taken in through the dust boot just eats away at the caliper bore and eventually starts to seize. I've replaced calipers on many malibus due to this problem.