Brake question.

tantric5, Oct 5, 9:40pm
Hello.I was sitting in my car and noticed the brake pedal felt spongy.if I held my foot on it and pressed down hard it almost touched the floor. Brake still work ok.when I turned the motor off and then pressed the brakes again the pedal felt firm.

Is it a leaking brake booster! Cars 2001 with 4 wheel discs
chebry, Oct 5, 9:43pm
Air dude in your braking system get them bled out its a good idea to have this done periodicly as some brake fluids are hydroscopic.
tantric5, Oct 5, 9:44pm
oh cool.thanks.I know its hard to say without looking but you reakon thats all it is!
ema1, Oct 5, 9:50pm
Hygroscopic = absorbing moisture from the surrounding air.
tantric5, Oct 5, 9:52pm
thanks for that. I had heard of that before.good advice
franc123, Oct 5, 10:14pm
It would most likely be a hydraulic leak somewhere or a master cylinder on the way out. If the pedal pumps up firm with the engine off and drops away a bit under your foot after the engine starts you haven't got a booster problem. Air can only get into the system if it has developed a leak or the fluid level has been allowed to fall too low, it doesn't get in there for no reason. Whatever the issue is it needs pro assessment ASAP.
NZTools, Oct 5, 11:11pm
Havnt you all forgotten what a booster does!
It will by nature make the brake pedal hard when the engine is swithed off.

How spongy exactly is your brake pedal! the fact that it goes hard when the engine is turned off, is normal.
unbeatabull, Oct 5, 11:25pm
As NZTools said .

Pedal should get firm after turning engine off. If turn engine off, should take 2-5 pumps for it to get firm. Once firm, check it doesn't go to the floor. If it doesn't, walk away for 30 mins, come back. It should still be firm on it's first press.

If still all ok. Start up and check it then. With the booster, you can apply more pressure onto the brakes, If it travels further then normal or almost touches the floor you have a problem, usually air in the system, or simply brakes needing adjusting (If you have drum brakes on the front or rear of the car)

Spongey pedals generally occur once driving and a bit of heat in the brakes. That is the true test for the fluid, if theres any moisture in it the pedal will get worst the more you drive it, or the more you use the brakes.
tantric5, Oct 5, 11:42pm
ok.thanks for all your input.most appreciated!

I left it for an hour and it was firm at first but if I applied strong pressure it sank almost to the floor. I started it up, gave it 4-5 pumps and again, pressed down hard, almost to the floor.

Last weekend I drove over a mountain range and near the bottom I thought the brakes were pretty spongy but put it down to heat due to the incline. Been driving all week without it being obviously slack.

Drove it today and as above, was surprised it almost went to the floor. Stops ok.but off to the workshop to get it checked out come Monday. Luckily I have another car in the garage I can drive meanwhile.

Cheers
guest, Sep 25, 12:02pm
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guest, Sep 28, 10:39am
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