Brake problems - low break pedal.

[mricketts]

I hope someone can help me out here.......

I have a 2000 Accent with ~125k kms on it. At about 110k kms I noticed that the break pedal was kinda low, but the breaks have worked up until now. Twice in two days, I lost pretty much all the compression on the pedal. The pedal went right to the floor and was barely able to stop me. Luckily, there were no other vehicles around or I would have nailed them.

It happened once each day and immediately afterwards the breaks were fine. It's been fine ever since (~2 weeks). I've had both the front and rear breaks done this year and that didn't fix the low break pedal.

Anyone else have this problem, or have any suggestions? Thanks

[PhlatulentPhreddy]

I have a 2000 too. I have 83,000 m on it. I had a similar problem but I heard a knocking. The back drums had rusted out and needed to be replaced. The brakes are okay and I swapped out the front ones at 44,000 and I had the brakes checked today. The front lugnuts had to be oxygen torched off and all 8 sets need to be replaced or something like that. Brakes still okay on both back (never changed pads) and front (new pads at 44,000). I would also check brake fluid and definitley get it serviced. The two most important items on a car are the brakes and the tires. If you can't stop, nothing else matters. Hope that helps.

Phreddy

Originally Posted by mricketts

I hope someone can help me out here.......

I have a 2000 Accent with ~125k kms on it. At about 110k kms I noticed that the break pedal was kinda low, but the breaks have worked up until now. Twice in two days, I lost pretty much all the compression on the pedal. The pedal went right to the floor and was barely able to stop me. Luckily, there were no other vehicles around or I would have nailed them.

It happened once each day and immediately afterwards the breaks were fine. It's been fine ever since (~2 weeks). I've had both the front and rear breaks done this year and that didn't fix the low break pedal.

Anyone else have this problem, or have any suggestions? Thanks

[mricketts]

Thanks for the advice. So replacing the drums fixed the problem??

I've had the breaks serviced. Replaced both wheel cylinders. I've had the pads and rotors changed out within the last year. I really don't know what the problem is.

I just put the car in the garage, and the mechanics can't find anything wrong. I'm at a loss as to what to do next.

Originally Posted by PhlatulentPhreddy

I have a 2000 too. I have 83,000 m on it. I had a similar problem but I heard a knocking. The back drums had rusted out and needed to be replaced. The brakes are okay and I swapped out the front ones at 44,000 and I had the brakes checked today. The front lugnuts had to be oxygen torched off and all 8 sets need to be replaced or something like that. Brakes still okay on both back (never changed pads) and front (new pads at 44,000). I would also check brake fluid and definitley get it serviced. The two most important items on a car are the brakes and the tires. If you can't stop, nothing else matters. Hope that helps.

Phreddy

[PhlatulentPhreddy]

Hi

Sorry to hear about your car. I've replaced the front brakes at 44,000m and I just had the mechanic take a look at front and rear and rotate tires. Turns out they couldn't get the lug nuts off and had to replace all 8 on the front tires. The brakes are okay but I got a $300 bill. I leave well enough alone usually but brakes are the most important maintenance item in my book and one not an item to put off. When the drums went I could feel and hear a knocking sound and there was a noticeable lack of braking power. I felt a little leeway when pressing down on them and figured I'd check them. I did notice that he added a can of brake fluid as I got that on the bill. Brakes seem okay but this lug nut deal is the first time I ever heard of something like that and I may have gotten hosed. The guys been above-board about everything else and I figure if he wanted to take me for some bucks he could have just as easily told me I need front and rear and put on some aftermarket brakes and I wouldn't know the difference probably. I just got the jallopy paid off and I was looking forward to some trouble free time before I had to shell out more dough. I had an oxygen sensor go last month to the tune of $300 and this this month. The car has lasted okay and not too many troubles up until now but if I get another $300 bill in the next 3 months trading it in or selling it and buying something new. I take care of the car religiously but I can't complain as it has gotten me through 6 years and was cheap and reliable for the most part. I hope you get your brakes fixed. Sounds like you've done everything to them that I can think of. My only other suggestion is having them check the calipers on the front brakes but you would feel the car pull to one side then. Anyway - hope you don't have to drive for the Holiday weekend. Happy Thanksgiving and best of luck.

Phreddy

Originally Posted by mricketts

Thanks for the advice. So replacing the drums fixed the problem??

I've had the breaks serviced. Replaced both wheel cylinders. I've had the pads and rotors changed out within the last year. I really don't know what the problem is.

I just put the car in the garage, and the mechanics can't find anything wrong. I'm at a loss as to what to do next.