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98 voyager brakes went to floor, still brake?
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Zuhaltermann
Novice
Aug 19, 2010, 1:49 AM
Post #1 of 7
(1838 views)
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98 voyager brakes went to floor, still brake?
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Here's the specs:
1998 Plymouth Voyager 2WD
3.3L V6
130,000 mi.
ABS, non-traction control
DAY OF PROBLEM:
I had let a friend borrow my car, when he brought it back he said the brakes were "weird". Unfortunately he knows NOTHING about cars, but i know this. He brakes HARD. One of those last minute brakers, the guy you think is going to rear end you until he slams on the brakes. Not squealing rubber braking, think... "hand on the dashboard and grab your pop out of the cupholder QUICK" braking. Thought that was worth mentioning. now...
WHEN BRAKING:
The brakes still work, but they go straight to the floor, and then in the last inch of pedal clearance they start braking. The car takes forever to slow down this way, very unsafe. If I stomp on it, i slow down a little faster. I also noticed that if I stomp on it, it pulls hard to the right. It's never done that before either. There is no noise coming from three of the four wheels, I've used a recorder with a stethiscope mike to record each tire while driving. The front left does make a little noise, sounds like a pads-on-rotor rub. It's pretty faint, but constant.
BACKGROUND:
I'm a weekend warrior, been messing with cars since I was 16. Always do my own brake jobs. Have owned 9 cars, always done a good job on rotors and pads, always use a caliper push tool to gain clearance for the new pads so I never open or mess with the brake fluid system, never have to bleed that way. Replaced the front pads on both sides about 9 months ago, have never had a problem. Checked rotors and pads, still good. After research and checking various Q&A forums I'm starting to think it's my master cylinder... but could a brake booster have the same effect? I read up how to do a master cylinder, it sounds like something I could do easily enough. But I can't find a scrap of info on what a bad brake booster could do to a car. I looked up a lot of threads on brakes for this site... but those all talk about brakes that go to the floor, and thats it. Mine go to the floor... but still work! Any info or insight on how I should proceed would be a great help!
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Zuhaltermann
Novice
Aug 19, 2010, 1:54 AM
Post #2 of 7
(1835 views)
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Re: 98 voyager brakes went to floor, still brake?
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Forgot to mention that the red brake light came on while he had it, he doesn't remember when it happened. Red brake warning light is still on.
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Zuhaltermann
Novice
Aug 21, 2010, 10:03 AM
Post #3 of 7
(1825 views)
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Re: 98 voyager brakes went to floor, still brake?
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UPDATE: Took the tires off all four, checked them out again.... Drivers side front caliper is seized. the small amount of rust on the rotor itself makes me think it seized at about the time the brakes went to the floor. Could a caliper cause that, instead of a master cylinder or brake booster?
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Zuhaltermann
Novice
Sep 15, 2010, 11:54 AM
Post #4 of 7
(1801 views)
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Re: 98 voyager brakes went to floor, still brake?
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UPDATE: Replaced the calipers and pads, bled out the left front caliper now the brakes no longer pull, but they are still going to the floor. HOWEVER. I can now pump them back up. Anyone? Is this still a bad master cylinder or do I just have to bleed all four plugs?
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 15, 2010, 12:01 PM
Post #5 of 7
(1798 views)
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Re: 98 voyager brakes went to floor, still brake?
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Go back and look at the calipers and tell me if the bleeder screw is above the line or below the line.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 16, 2010, 8:06 AM
Post #6 of 7
(1789 views)
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Re: 98 voyager brakes went to floor, still brake?
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"Z" - this has gone on a while now. If you need help get it as brakes are just too important.
It smacks of a bad Master Cylinder but air can fool you too if in the system. You just said you could pump them up which is also a clue. Generally if that gives you a better pedal and can sink to floor the clue is even stronger.
You said your "friend" was hard on brakes but good ones should still take that. Yes - it can bring out the weak links be be hard on anything but if all was normal should have taken that.
Hey - You really shouldn't be driving this vehicle till it's all fixed and behaving,
T
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 16, 2010, 8:12 AM
Post #7 of 7
(1783 views)
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Re: 98 voyager brakes went to floor, still brake?
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Please answer my question before you do anything else.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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