cover for defroster vent

[90sabre]

The cover for my defrost vent(the one on top of the dash) slides back and forth while driving. What's the best way to re-secure this?
Also, I just had new pads and rotors put on the front of the car and the brakes work great except that the pedal seems to be a bit low or soft. Is this normal? If not, what should i do??

Thanks!!

Leo
90 LeSabre Limited

[yogi_123rd]

The defrost vent cover (about 6' long) just presses in to a plastic mount. They warp with age. If it don't fit, you could try a drop of superglue.

If your brakes have a low pedal, then it would be your rear drum brakes as the problem. The automatic adjuster typically rusts up on a wheel. With the automatic adjustor not compensating for brake wear, it takes a longer and longer pedal stroke before the brakes catch.

[90sabre]

Originally Posted by yogi_123rd

The defrost vent cover (about 6' long) just presses in to a plastic mount. They warp with age. If it don't fit, you could try a drop of superglue.

If your brakes have a low pedal, then it would be your rear drum brakes as the problem. The automatic adjuster typically rusts up on a wheel. With the automatic adjustor not compensating for brake wear, it takes a longer and longer pedal stroke before the brakes catch.

should i have the rear brakes checked out or just wait til it becomes a problem? i have good stopping power but like i said the pedal is a little lower than i would like. Thanks!!

[tman]

The pedal could have low fluid. Check the fluid level of the master cylinder, there should be a fill line in it.

To set the rear drums, you dont have to move the adjuster by hand. Find a deserted straight road, and drive on it in reverse. Accelerate to about 20 mph or so, and hit the brakes hard enough to chirp the tires. Not full on tires locked ABs working hard, but enough to make them chirp a little. Do this two of three times and the brakes will set to a further spread out setting to accomodate for wear.

[HotZ28]

Good advise Tman, I couldn't have said it better myself, except that there could be air in the system and you need to bleed it! By the way, where is Flatrater? I have not seen his advice on any thread lately. I miss his input & wisdom.

[tman]

he's around, but I havent seen him post as often as he usually does.

I was counting on just low fluid, there might not be any air in the system, but there could be. I figured he'd check back if he was empty of something like that.

[HotZ28]

Tman, thanks for the feedback. Glad to here Flatrater is OK and still around! Maybe someone needs to jerk his chain!

[90sabre]

Originally Posted by tman2093

The pedal could have low fluid. Check the fluid level of the master cylinder, there should be a fill line in it.

To set the rear drums, you dont have to move the adjuster by hand. Find a deserted straight road, and drive on it in reverse. Accelerate to about 20 mph or so, and hit the brakes hard enough to chirp the tires. Not full on tires locked ABs working hard, but enough to make them chirp a little. Do this two of three times and the brakes will set to a further spread out setting to accomodate for wear.

thanks for the advice! the fluid was ok, but i did the "reverse adjustment" and it seemed to help a little. i was hoping they wouldn't have to be bleed but the pedal still isn't where i would like it....

Leo

[LeSabre97mint]

Originally Posted by 90sabre

The cover for my defrost vent(the one on top of the dash) slides back and forth while driving. What's the best way to re-secure this?
Also, I just had new pads and rotors put on the front of the car and the brakes work great except that the pedal seems to be a bit low or soft. Is this normal? If not, what should i do??

Thanks!!

Leo
90 LeSabre Limited

Leo

I would bring the car back to where you had the work done. I'm thinking that they pulled the brake drums in the rear to inspect the rear brakes. Before they were able to pull the drums they had to loosen the adjuster for the shoes because the drum has a ridge where the shoes do not rub which didn't allow the drum to slide off. After the rear drums were put back on they didn't adjust them back up. I would be willing to bet that you parking brake doesn't work very well either.

I've done this may times.

Low brake pedel = either poorly adjusted shoes, worn out shoes, air in the system, leaky system, or bad master cylinder.

It's very inportant to have your rear brakes doing their part. They are around 30 % of your stoping power. You have greater chance of over heating and warping your front rotors on the front.

Get them fixed.

Regards

Dan