97 corolla new brakes problem

Hello,
I have a 1997 Corolla DX (1.8 liters). I got new brake pads installed
yesterday
and there is only a marginal improvement in braking. The brake pedal
still gets depressed
more than it would with new brakes on. While driving back from the
mechanic (NOT a large
store like Pep Boys, just a regular cheap shop in south Los Angeles) I
assumed there wasn't
enough heat/friction building up in the brakes yet so I let it go. But
I drove to work and
back today (almost 50 miles) and I was as apprehensive as I was before
I got the brakes fixed.
The car does not stop on a coin like new brakes should help it to, and
there's
no chance of going back to the mechanic for a refund. I did not get
brake fluid too, and I
don't know if that will fix my problem. A visual inspection after the
job was done looked like the
pads were indeed new.
Has anyone else had the same problem ever? Is there a fix that I can
implement with my rudimentary toolbox?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Bhargava

"Bhargava" <necrophobic@gmx.net> wrote in message
news:1143515029.233896.162510@i39g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> Hello,
> I have a 1997 Corolla DX (1.8 liters). I got new brake pads installed
> yesterday
> and there is only a marginal improvement in braking. The brake pedal
> still gets depressed
> more than it would with new brakes on. While driving back from the
> mechanic (NOT a large
> store like Pep Boys, just a regular cheap shop in south Los Angeles) I
> assumed there wasn't
> enough heat/friction building up in the brakes yet so I let it go. But
> I drove to work and
> back today (almost 50 miles) and I was as apprehensive as I was before
> I got the brakes fixed.
> The car does not stop on a coin like new brakes should help it to, and
> there's
> no chance of going back to the mechanic for a refund. I did not get
> brake fluid too, and I
> don't know if that will fix my problem. A visual inspection after the
> job was done looked like the
> pads were indeed new.
> Has anyone else had the same problem ever? Is there a fix that I can
> implement with my rudimentary toolbox?
> Any help is greatly appreciated.
> Thank you,
> Bhargava
>[/color]

If the brake pedal is very low to the floor, then it may need brake fluid or
if you have rear drum brakes, it may need the rear brakes adjusted.
Mis-adjusted rear brakes can also cause longer stopping distances. Another
possible cause of poor stopping ability is a stuck caliper slide bolt. All
of these items should have been checked by a competent technician.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)