1999 Camry with brake problem

[ken123]

This just started on me. I leave home\work, brakes feel fine, pedal travel is OK and car brakes fine. As I drive, get closer to home\work which is an hour, brake travel feels mushy and travel is almost to the floor. All brakes were done about 7 months ago. Front brake pads are about 3/8 inch. I had to add some, not much, fluid a week ago. We bled the lines also, not much air. Any ideas. Want to know what to expect before I bring to the mechanic.

Thanks for any help!!

[sr5punk]

sounds to me like there may still be air in the lines. try bleeding them again?

[ken123]

Did not try a second time. The first time a slight amount came out from the front left. The rear, only brake fluid, no air.

Want to add there are no leaks. Don't see any fluids on the ground at all after I move my car.

[Mike Gerber]

"We bled the lines also, not much air"

There shouldn't be any air. Bleed them again as sr5punk suggested. What exactly was done 7 months ago? Was any part of the brake hydraulic system opened?

Also, are any of the brakes sticking on? Drive it for an hour and then quickly jack up each wheel and try to rotate each wheel by hand. Are any of the wheels hard to turn. Check that wheel for a sticking caliper or dragging rear brake in the back. If you have rear drum brakes, also check the emergency brake cables to see if they are sticking, causing pressure to constantly be applied to one or both of the rear wheels. A sticking brake can cause the temperature of that brake to get extremely hot. This can cause the fluid near that brake to boil, which could account for the excessive brake pedal travel and the mushy feel you are experiencing.

Mike

[JohnGD]

You may have a failing master cylinder.

If there is air, then a rapid repeated application should get you a firmer pedal. If the cups are worn, then it's likely no help.

[96paseo]

If you have drums in the rear, they may need to be adjusted.

[ken123]

The system was not opened. Just replaced the front pads.

Today, Friday, I bled the system again. Only fluid came out, no air at all. Drove the car for about 20 miles, everything seems fine for now. When I got home I jacked the car and checked each wheel, all spin fine, don't feel any binding at all, of course the brakes also are working OK. Pedal travel is OK. Applied the parking brake and checked the tires, that seems fine also.

I might have to take a trip over the weekend or wait for Monday to drive to work again to see if it still is a problem.