i recently took my SE out for a drive last week end and found that there had to be great pedal effort for me to stop my car quickly and the brake pedal is hard, unlike both my parents cars.

or could it be because i bleed them poorly, doubt it because if there were air bubles it wouldnt be mushy but my brake pedal is hard, just like a normal brake pedal with the engine off.

thanks

 

Air in the lines would make the pedal mushy and drop to the floor before much happened.If the car stops fine,but requires a lot of pedal pressure to do it,then its usually the booster.Also,when changing pads,sometimes the first few applications of the brakes will feel "off". Usually its from not turning the rotors,or from fluid/grease/fogging oil on the rotors.

Check the vacuum line first,since the boosters tend to be pretty reliable.Check the connection at the intake manifold,the hose itself and the check valve near the booster.If it has been installed backwards,then the booster will never see any vacuum,and it wont work.

 

well it sound more like a brake boster problem to me then anything else I would check the hose first and make sure that it doesnt have any holes in it cracks and then would go about replacing the booster it shouldnt be to bad for a reman one.

 

If you brakebooster has a leak in it, it should miss in the higher rpms.

I replaced mine, now its smooth as glass.

-nick-