I'm looking at buying an 88 FC right now, but the dashboard brake light is on, and the pedal is very soft. Is there a common cause for this on RX-7's? Leaks, Bad M/C, Needs to be bled better, etc?

I'm a very experienced mechanic, I just want to make sure I'm not going to buy the car and have to dump $1500 into the brakes right away...

Any help/insights would be appreciated...

 

you might have a variety of problrems. it could be anything simple from bleeding to a new master cylinder. I know that my brakes were soft, and it felt like the power assist wasn't worknig, and I changed the pads, and they are doing great now, I also never had the brake light on, either.

 

I wouldn't be concerned @ the brakes if price is right. You can rebuild front calipers for abot $30-4piston. Rears are tricking, just get rebuilt or used. Same for master cyl. Run of the mill pads not much even for all 4 wheels. Just some time. Even if buy all 4 rebuilt, rebuilt m/c,and pads, total would be @ $350. I really don't know about the light...Mine doesn't have any sensor from the perportioning valve, only the master cyl. Poss. low fluid, emergency brake switch. Be concerned with the engine. A lot of bucks/aggrevation if low compression.