88 Accord Brakes

[Xaisk]

Hate to double post but.

while im thinking about it and logged in, my Accord, when breaking, will hook to the left. and Naturally it just drags to the left. We have a civic that does the same thing but to the right I believe.

What could be the case for this?

Also the brakes are pathetically weak. To get it to stop, I push the brake pedal all the way back as if im slamming on brakes. It just slides back with no force until it gets towards the far back. Sometimes occasionally it will have force halfway towards the back, but it will drop and wont have force till the pedal hits the back.

Is there any way to test the proportioning valve? Or could it even be a master cylinder problem?

[Airjer_]

Rear drum brakes? If so may be worth taking a peak at them to start.

[jeffcoslacker]

Yeah if it has rear drums they need to be inspected, adjusted and cleaned...if it still does it suspect a frozen front caliper, caliper slide surface that is seized, or a front brake hose that is internally damaged.

But the low pedal sounds like wildly out of adjustment rear drums or a master cylinder problem...but USUALLY the typical M.O. for a failing MC is a pedal that slowly drops as you sit stopped at a light, or needs to be stroked a couple of times to have full pedal...

[Xaisk]

Hm out of adjustment rear brakes seems more probable. I replaced ALL the brakes. front and back. Dad helped me out and the back brakes prolly didnt get put on and adjusted correctly. Ill take a look sometime. Got TS Ida hitting today so its been a wreck out

[somick]

I believe you can adjust rear brakes by backing up and hitting the brakes few times. Try this first.

Pulling to one side is definitely either seized caliper piston or rusted/seized slide pins.

Good luck,

Sam

[Xaisk]

The rotors and calipers on the front wheels are ALL brand spankin new, pads n all. however I wont rule out that it could have been defective in some way. will need to inspect.

Ill try the backing up thing tommorow and see if it adjusts it and helps in any way.

[jeffcoslacker]

Originally Posted by somick

I believe you can adjust rear brakes by backing up and hitting the brakes few times. Try this first.

Most FWD cars have what are called non-servo type drum brakes, they have equal sized lining on the primary and secondary shoes, and have the adjuster above the axle rather than below, and don't adjust the way you suggested, only servo-type will.

Non-servos adjust only when the e-brake is operated...which is why most FWD cars with automatic tranny have really misadjusted rear brakes...nobody uses the e-brake with an automatic.

Just FYI...a lotta people don't know this.

Repeatedly setting and releasing the e-brake (firmly, tight as you can) will operate the adjuster mechanism...if it isn't stuck, which they usually are.

[Xaisk]

Interesting. As soon as I read the mid part of the message I started to wonder if useing the Ebrake would cause it to adjust, then got down to the last paragraph. Gunna try that as well.

[somick]

Originally Posted by jeffcoslacker

Most FWD cars have what are called non-servo type drum brakes, they have equal sized lining on the primary and secondary shoes, and have the adjuster above the axle rather than below, and don't adjust the way you suggested, only servo-type will.

Non-servos adjust only when the e-brake is operated...which is why most FWD cars with automatic tranny have really misadjusted rear brakes...nobody uses the e-brake with an automatic.

Just FYI...a lotta people don't know this.

Repeatedly setting and releasing the e-brake (firmly, tight as you can) will operate the adjuster mechanism...if it isn't stuck, which they usually are.

Thanks for correcting me. Now I know why I never had that kind of problems - I always use my hand brake when parked.

Sam