brake pedal problem

I have an 89 toyota corolla with a brake problem:

Pressing down the brake pedal, with a relatively low amount of
pressure, the pedal seems to have gone all the way down, as i can feel
the pedal hitting a bottom and hear the knocking sound. However, at
this point, even at around 10 - 20 mph speeds car continues to move
forward and can't get the tires to skid.

When I press down a lot harder beyond that point, even though the pedal
doesn't seem to go any further, I can get tires to skid. But I mean..
really a lot of pressure compared to what I know how brakes should be.

I don't really feel the problem when driving normally, but a hard brake
reveals that I need to do some extra thinking other than reflexes in
case of emergencies.

Any one had the same problem or have any ideas?

Thanks.

[email]ykutluay@gmail.com[/email] wrote:[color=blue]
> I have an 89 toyota corolla with a brake problem:
>
> Pressing down the brake pedal, with a relatively low amount of
> pressure, the pedal seems to have gone all the way down[/color]
=======================
Master cylinder - rebuild or replace

<ykutluay@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1160726307.142196.222000@m7g2000cwm.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>I have an 89 toyota corolla with a brake problem:
>
> Pressing down the brake pedal, with a relatively low amount of
> pressure, the pedal seems to have gone all the way down, as i can feel
> the pedal hitting a bottom and hear the knocking sound. However, at
> this point, even at around 10 - 20 mph speeds car continues to move
> forward and can't get the tires to skid.
>
> When I press down a lot harder beyond that point, even though the pedal
> doesn't seem to go any further, I can get tires to skid. But I mean..
> really a lot of pressure compared to what I know how brakes should be.
>
> I don't really feel the problem when driving normally, but a hard brake
> reveals that I need to do some extra thinking other than reflexes in
> case of emergencies.
>
> Any one had the same problem or have any ideas?
>
> Thanks.[/color]

I recommend that you not drive the car and have it diagnosed by a competent
technician ASAP. Possible causes are worn brake linings and / or
mis-adjusted rear drum brakes, leaking caliper or wheel cylinder, or bad
master cylinder.

--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

I agree...you've got a bad Master Cylinder. The problem you describe is
called Pedal Fade. (Brakes seem to work fine under highway driving
conditions, but in city stop & go traffic, the pedal goes to the floor.)
Probably better to replace with a new one instead of a rebuilt. The Master
Cylinder body is aluminum and probably has some pitting in the bore. Also
the steel pistons inside have worn away some of the anodizing, which caused
the pitting problem.


<nospampls2002@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1160757715.668932.34150@f16g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> [email]ykutluay@gmail.com[/email] wrote:[color=green]
>> I have an 89 toyota corolla with a brake problem:
>>
>> Pressing down the brake pedal, with a relatively low amount of
>> pressure, the pedal seems to have gone all the way down[/color]
> =======================
> Master cylinder - rebuild or replace
>[/color]