[cooldj]

Hi,

I am having a problem with my brakes. i tried looking online for a solution, but was unable to find the same problem.

Background:
Mazda 6, GT, V6, 2005, 152,000km; front/back pads and rotors were replaced about 25-30,000 km ago for the first time ever (I'm pretty nice on my brakes).

About a month ago the brake pedal started to feel soft and spongy. When I first pushed it, it would travel more than usual before the car would start slowing down. Eventually the car would start slowing down and the car would stop then sharply.

Last time I had a similar problem, I flushed the brake liquid and it solved the problem. I decided to do the same thing this time.

Unfortunately, it didn't solve the problem, but I think made it worst. Now, the pedal is still spongy but it travels even more before the car starts slowing down. When I'm getting in my garage, down a slope, the car barely stops at the bottom, even if I push very hard on the pedal. It feels like when you start the car on a very cold day and the brakes need a bit of warming up before working properly.

I was wondering if anyone had some advice on what I should ask the garage to look at?

Thanks.

 

[MrTea]

i would say it still sounds like your fluid. I would give it another try just to be sure as the symptoms all point to it still.

the only other thing would be some sort of leak or lack of vacuum at the booster. though typically the leak would be in a line and you have an oscillating idle as well, though it could be after the check valve. off the top of my head i don't have a troubleshooting thing to check that.

 

[cooldj]

Hi,

Thanks for the advice. Any idea how can a dealership not flush properly brake fluid?!

 

[MrTea]

i'm thinking DIY, if a dealership did it and it feels bad still, take it back to the dealer! no reason that the car should not be acting correctly after a dealer visit.

this is a constant issue, not intermittent correct?

 

[cooldj]

I know, I'll take it back next Saturday. Just wanted to know what the issue could be in advance. They are nice people and reasonably priced, but sometimes you got to tell them what you think the problem is and they eventually find it.

Yes, it's a constant issue.

 

[MonoxideChild]

yea. id def take it back to the dealership.

 

[Speed135]

With engine off and vacume bled off, if you push hard on brake pedel, does it sink, going to floor? If it does it looks like your master cylinder seals are by-passing fluid and bleeding won't help that. That is a lot of miles and especially when cold probably started to bypass old hard seals.
I am thinking it's your master cylinder gone bad. If you do it your self, bleed it first before installing. Can save a lot of grief. They used to have bleed hoses in box to bleed out the air and fluid back into the resovior till clear so it is ready for installation with no air pushed into system.
This for anyone that has not bled brakes before.
When bleeding I always pull as much old fluid out of the master cylinder as possible with a syringe and fill with clean fluid, start at farthest wheel from master cylinder, use a hose from wheel cylinder or caliper being bled into a jar with clear fluid in it to prevent sucking air back in system and can see when fluid is clear. Make sure to not run out fluid in master cylinder while bleeding.
With all those miles the wheel cylinders or calipers may need work too if not done when you did brake job last. If the pistons stick and don't relax properly they can cause the pads to drag excessively generating heat, even pulling to one side when hitting brakes and premature brake wear.

 

[fredricktsang]

could it also be a bad seal in the master cylinder? my friends corolla had his master cylinder go bad and he had similar symptoms.