Cherokeekid4x4

My brakes are very very squishy. Sometimes I have to throw it to the floor even to stop in town. The brake light used to go on and off but now it's staying on. New front pads, and I've bleed the brakes more than a couple of times and added fluid but still sucky. What about brake booster? Could that be going out?

Red82

Not to sound like your retarded buy have you checked to make sure you still have fluid? You could have a leak somewhere.

Cherokeekid4x4

Yes, my fluid is still full lol

Cherokeekid4x4

So any ideas?

bassboost

Brake master cylinder or possibly booster. I'd bet on master cylinder.

Cherokeekid4x4

What's the cylinder and the booster? My dad says they are the same thing? Idk lol

freegdr

Ever adjust up rears ?

PatriotGT

Booster - the big round thing connected to the firewall.
Master cylinder - connects to the booster, with the lines coming out
of it. Also has the brake fluid reservoir on it.
Do a search on any parts store site for each and it should show you
the difference.

bassboost

Brake booster


Master Cylinder- 2 different designs

Cherokeekid4x4

Negative. But the rear only makes up 30 % of the brakes. And would that mean id have to put it to the floor to stop? And would it cause the brake light to be on?

bassboost

There's a sensor in the master cylinder I believe? Anyone can correct me if I'm wrong there, not 100% I'm still leaning towards the master cylinder being bad.

The fluid is full, it's not leaking anywhere, new brake components, been bled numerous times. With all of these things being checked and/or corrected, next step for repair is the master cylinder.

I've had them fail on numerous vehicles, and that's one of the symptoms for it. Squishy brakes, not building pressure when brake pedal is applied.

Domaas

the "brake" sensor is on the proportioning valve.

It will light up if the is a major differance in pressure from front to rear. The valve will shuttle from front to back (and vice versa) depending on pressure differantial.(been pretty much standard since the introduction of dual circuit brake systems in the 60's) dont quote me on the date..just know it was long before my time!

check the rear brakes for adjustment, or even crawl under there and see if the drums are "wet" from brake fluid(indicating a blown wheel cyl)

the main purpose of a dual brake system is it allows one "system" to completly fail, while still providing a measure of braking for emergancy braking.

that being said, if the rear was WAY out of adjustment, broken shoe, blown wheel cyl..ect. the front brakes can still provid SOME braking.

If you bleed the front, and the brake lines are not swelled, then take a long look at the rears.

hope this helps.

freegdr

True but rears regulte pedal height and yes if they are traveling far enough a light can be lit .

Nick-B

My money is on a bad Master Cylinder. If it is old and crusty looking it is probably the original and should have been replaced long ago.

Red82

This is my thought as well