Brakes barely work

STR8SILVER2003

MEMBER
NISSAN

I have a 1991 Nissan Stanza 2.4L engine with approximately 115K Miles. The reason for the approximate is because My speedometer is messed up and I am not sure what the problem is with that either. It works sometimes but only when it feels like it. For now though, my brakes work but have to be pushed to the floor to enable them. I put new brake fluid in it but it still didn't fix it. I noticed that when I press the brakes there is a rather loud click behind the dash. Kind of sounds like a switch clicking to operate the tail lights. What do I need to do to fix this problem? Is there anything else you need to know?

6 Replies

MIKE H R

MECHANIC
3,094 POSTS

Have the brake system bleeded, could be air in lines. Check all vacuum lines to make sure there are no leaks. Does the pedal get hard when you have pumped the brakes with engine running?

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Tuesday, June 5th, 2007 AT 11:33 AM

STR8SILVER2003

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3 POSTS

When the Engine is OFF they get stiffer but when the engine is running and idoling they are super soft and don't catch until the pedal hits the floor and to stop completely I have to push them a little farther into the floor. When I pump the brakes with the car running they do not get any harder. Could it be the master brake cylinder?

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Tuesday, June 5th, 2007 AT 3:41 PM

MIKE H R

MECHANIC
3,094 POSTS

Get the car into a shop and have them check the brakes, the master cylinder would do the same thing, with the pedal getting harder with the car shut off, I am thinking in a vacuum leak, check all the wires going to the master brake cylinder to see if they are connected. The brake warning light should have gone on.

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Wednesday, June 6th, 2007 AT 7:11 PM

STR8SILVER2003

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3 POSTS

Yes, the brake warning light has been on for a while. When I filled it with brake fluid it went off for a little while until the brake fluid emptied out again. Which took about a week.

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Wednesday, June 6th, 2007 AT 9:12 PM

KIN CHAN

MEMBER
453 POSTS

Hey |M |J Ritzel
i like ur atitude. Very professional man!
Obviously this guy got a leak on his brake system and keep goin low with air in his system.
Hey man find the leak and button it up. Bleed all air out.U should be find.
If u still are in the learning process of how to do it. Keep postiing. Most do it uselfer can teach u that. If not buy a manual it will teach u step by step procedure.
Good luck man