Brake problems

[ahhjaws]

Hey, I was wondering if any of you could help me with this problem. It started about last month and comes and goes so I don't think too much about it, but now it's really starting to worry me.

When I brake, towards the end when I am almost stopped, my brakes get squishy. It's like the ABS turns on or somthing. You can feel in the pedal a clicky type vibration, and the car stops later than desired. So the brakes kind of fail right when I'm almost stopped.

I checked the fluid level, fine. I checked the pads and shoes, fine. Any thoughts?

 

[410Fortune]

mASTER CYLINDER HAS A BAD O RING IN IT POSSIBLY.

You have rear drums?

Have you checked for a vacuum leak at the brake booster?
A vacuum leak in the intake manifolds can cause a similar problem, squichy pedal.

I would suspect the master cylinder is getting old if all else checks out.

Does the ABS light come on?

 

[ahhjaws]

I do have rear drums, I could check the vacuum lines.

The ABS light doesn't go on but the "check brake" light does, but that started a while ago.

How would I know if the master cylinder is bad?

I took it to the car wash and sprayed the brakes really good, incase it was dust or something, and that seemed to help a lot.

 

[douce92x]

I to have this problem, so I'm curiouse to find out what your sollution is.

 

[410Fortune]

Try this (I know it sounds weird)

Go in reverse, get up moving pretty good and lock em up.

See if it goes away.

Sounds to me like you need a new master cylinder......
Check for vacuum in the brake booster, easy way to do that is pull the vacuum line off and see if air rushes in........

 

[Bacardi Mike]

I'm experiencing the same problem. But I don't have any warning lights being displayed. When my brakes get 'squishy' is when the transmission shifts down to the lowest gear just before a complete stop. I can hear a noise come from the engine compartment when this happens, but it's hard to describe the noise. I have put it in neutral and came to a stop and the brakes don't act up. I have checked the amount of fluid and it's full. With the engine idling I have removed the vac hose from the booster and it seems to be sucking very well. No leaks by the mc nor are there any leaks on any of the 4 corners.
Is there anything else that I should check? I have no idea if it's the mc or the booster. Any help would be greatfully appreciated.

Thx,

Mike