Soft brake pedal when car is on--booseter issue?

[Lumberg]

I inherited my G4 from my mom and even when she had it the brake pedal was soft.

I figured the pedal just had to be adjusted but when I looked under the dash I realized there's very little adjustment possible. I can pump it up when the car is off the the pedal is rock hard. When I start the car with the pedal depressed it goes down (normal) but even when I pump it it goes to the floor.

I can still activate the ABS so it's not a big issue yet but I always realize how bad it is when I drive other cars and I'm like, "Wow, this car has great brakes." I'm gonna look at the one way valve in the vacuum line to the booster first, but am looking for input from other Camry owners.

[emerald_gen3]

good idea, another thing u might check (if the valve's not the problem) is leaks in the pressure lines... i had a leak on mine at the LF caliper and it had similar symptoms. also wouldnt be a bad idea to bleed the system if u havent recently

[Lumberg]

Right, I was thinking about bleeding or even flushing the system.

But I am pretty sure it's not a leak in the hydraulic system since the brake fluid level is good, and like I said the pedal is rock hard when the car is off. So this to me suggests booster/vacuum problems. Though of course you woudl see symptoms of a vacuum leak if it were a vacuum leak.....

[MCTOY]

Sounds like air in the system to me. Camry's DO have kinda' mushy feeling brakes anyways tho'.....Heard that Stainless lines wont 'swell up' when braking as much, and that the pedal feels firmer with them. Gonna look into it come brake time on mine.
MCTOY

[Toysrme]

Good call Toy, it sounds like you need to bleed it to me also.
Easy enough to do by yourself if you have a jar to bleed into and a piece of hose to put on the nipple. (All people of authority, *cough* immature *cough* are banned from making that joke)
Just keep pumping until you've pushed all (if any) air out of the system and the end of the hose is submerged in brake fluid. Cap it off and go around to another one.

Much easier with an extra set of hands tho...

[Lumberg]

Guys:

I know how to bleed the brakes. I know what air in the lines feels like.

The pedal is ROCK HARD with the engine off. There would be mushiness in the pedal regardless of engine operating status if it was air in the lines. The only variable that changes in the brake system between engine on and engine off is the booster. Like I said, I am wondering if anyone else has had this problem.

[MCTOY]

Is there any evidence of a leak? You didnt say in the original post, so I assumed that you had no leaks. Are the resevoirs full?What I kinda suspect ( if there are no leaks) is that you have a weak spot on one or more of your lines that swells up under pressure rather than actually engaging the brakes. Might get a friend to help you look for this. (Make HIM look while you push!!! ) GOOD LUCK
MCTOY