Honda Car Forum

The brakes in my '91 accord have a problem that couldn't be fixed by
bleeding the lines. It's something that happens every so many days, or
weeks. At times the break pedal goes all the way to the floor. It usually
happens when traveling at a low rate of speed, 40 mph and under. Pumping
the brakes will usually bring them back to normal, but not always. Usually
it doesn't happen after the car has been parked and restarted. This has
been going on for the past 6 months without any regular pattern of how
often.
I don't see any fluid leaks, and the brake fluid level is fine. A co-worker
of mine recommended that I check the equalizing valve. But by reading what
the equalizing valve is for, I don't think that the problem is caused by it.
Does anybody have an idea of what may be wrong with the brakes? Should I
replace the master cylinder? Thanks!

My vote is for the master cylinder. My brother had the same symptoms as
you describe when his master cylinder failed.

And I wouldn't drive the car until it is fixed!

JM wrote:
>
> The brakes in my '91 accord have a problem that couldn't be fixed by
> bleeding the lines. It's something that happens every so many days, or
> weeks. At times the break pedal goes all the way to the floor. It usually
> happens when traveling at a low rate of speed, 40 mph and under. Pumping
> the brakes will usually bring them back to normal, but not always. Usually
> it doesn't happen after the car has been parked and restarted. This has
> been going on for the past 6 months without any regular pattern of how
> often.
> I don't see any fluid leaks, and the brake fluid level is fine. A co-worker
> of mine recommended that I check the equalizing valve. But by reading what
> the equalizing valve is for, I don't think that the problem is caused by it.
> Does anybody have an idea of what may be wrong with the brakes? Should I
> replace the master cylinder? Thanks!

On 10/30/03 11:49 PM, in article xJmob.11148$CZ5.3064@twister.socal.rr.com,
"JM" <mercogliano@socal.rr.com> wrote:


> Should I
> replace the master cylinder? Thanks!
>
>

Yes

Same thing happened on my 95 Ody. Master cylinder. Your car is now
unsafe to drive. It will do it without warning and Murphy's Law will
definately come into play here if you let it!

LarryB

"Randolph" <trash@junkmail.com> wrote in message
news:3FA20458.AE65C3F4@junkmail.com...
> My vote is for the master cylinder. My brother had the same symptoms
as
> you describe when his master cylinder failed.
>
> And I wouldn't drive the car until it is fixed!
>
> JM wrote:
> >
> > The brakes in my '91 accord have a problem that couldn't be fixed
by
> > bleeding the lines. It's something that happens every so many
days, or
> > weeks. At times the break pedal goes all the way to the floor. It
usually
> > happens when traveling at a low rate of speed, 40 mph and under.
Pumping
> > the brakes will usually bring them back to normal, but not always.
Usually
> > it doesn't happen after the car has been parked and restarted.
This has
> > been going on for the past 6 months without any regular pattern of
how
> > often.
> > I don't see any fluid leaks, and the brake fluid level is fine. A
co-worker
> > of mine recommended that I check the equalizing valve. But by
reading what
> > the equalizing valve is for, I don't think that the problem is
caused by it.
> > Does anybody have an idea of what may be wrong with the brakes?
Should I
> > replace the master cylinder? Thanks!

I had this happen to an 89 Civic Wagon of mine, and it turned out to be a
semi-seized front caliper. Only the bottom of the caliper was sliding, so
when you pressed the brake pedal, all the fluid was being used to extend the
piston on that caliper, pushing the pad diagonally against the rotor. Ruined
the pad, of course, but a bit of sanding and some lubricant fixed the whole
problem.

"Randolph" <trash@junkmail.com> wrote in message
news:3FA20458.AE65C3F4@junkmail.com...
> My vote is for the master cylinder. My brother had the same symptoms as
> you describe when his master cylinder failed.
>
> And I wouldn't drive the car until it is fixed!
>
> JM wrote:
> >
> > The brakes in my '91 accord have a problem that couldn't be fixed by
> > bleeding the lines. It's something that happens every so many days, or
> > weeks. At times the break pedal goes all the way to the floor. It
usually
> > happens when traveling at a low rate of speed, 40 mph and under.
Pumping
> > the brakes will usually bring them back to normal, but not always.
Usually
> > it doesn't happen after the car has been parked and restarted. This has
> > been going on for the past 6 months without any regular pattern of how
> > often.
> > I don't see any fluid leaks, and the brake fluid level is fine. A
co-worker
> > of mine recommended that I check the equalizing valve. But by reading
what
> > the equalizing valve is for, I don't think that the problem is caused by
it.
> > Does anybody have an idea of what may be wrong with the brakes? Should I
> > replace the master cylinder? Thanks!

I'll go with the master cylinder as well. Same thing happened on my Honda
and that's what they diagnosed it as.
HOWEVER, after the part was ordered and they were stripping things down it
was discovered to be a bad washer/seal. They replaced this part and did not
replace the master cylinder (saved a couple bills - and this was at the
dealer!).

Don't play with the brakes. Get it fixed.

Good luck,
-Dave


"Randolph" <trash@junkmail.com> wrote in message
news:3FA20458.AE65C3F4@junkmail.com...
> My vote is for the master cylinder. My brother had the same symptoms as
> you describe when his master cylinder failed.
>
> And I wouldn't drive the car until it is fixed!
>
> JM wrote:
> >
> > The brakes in my '91 accord have a problem that couldn't be fixed by
> > bleeding the lines. It's something that happens every so many days, or
> > weeks. At times the break pedal goes all the way to the floor. It
usually
> > happens when traveling at a low rate of speed, 40 mph and under.
Pumping
> > the brakes will usually bring them back to normal, but not always.
Usually
> > it doesn't happen after the car has been parked and restarted. This has
> > been going on for the past 6 months without any regular pattern of how
> > often.
> > I don't see any fluid leaks, and the brake fluid level is fine. A
co-worker
> > of mine recommended that I check the equalizing valve. But by reading
what
> > the equalizing valve is for, I don't think that the problem is caused by
it.
> > Does anybody have an idea of what may be wrong with the brakes? Should I
> > replace the master cylinder? Thanks!

Thank you, Randolph, Larry, Scott, David, and E. Meyer. I'll work on the
master cylinder tomorrow with no fail. You're all a bunch of great people.
Thanks again.

"E. Meyer" <e.meyerNOSPAM@ieee.org> wrote in message
news:BBC7BE6B.22D8E%e.meyerNOSPAM@ieee.org...
> On 10/30/03 11:49 PM, in article
xJmob.11148$CZ5.3064@twister.socal.rr.com,
> "JM" <mercogliano@socal.rr.com> wrote:
>
>
> > Should I
> > replace the master cylinder? Thanks!
> >
> >
>
> Yes
>