Brake pedal pushed to the floor but very little stopping power?

(2011-01-13 15:20:44)

1. Jon G Says: I have a '95 Tahoe.
I was forced to blow a red light today because my brakes failed.
I was braking, and nothing seemed to happen. I pressed the pedal until it hit the floor and still very, very little stopping power. I'm lucky it was late and there wasn't a lot of traffic.

I checked the fluid and it was damn near empty. I filled it up, braking improved slightly, but not for long. Pumping doesn't seem to work at all. The pedal isnt hard to press at all. I press it and it goes straight to the floor.
So I drove it home going 50 the whole way praying no one would pull out in front of me.
What the hell's the dealio?

2. Matt Says: you have a severe brake fluid leak somewhere. i had this happen just last week. fill it up with fluid, pump the brakes quite a few times, look under the vehicle on the gound and on the insides of the tires and wheels. you should see a puddle somewhere and this will lead you to the leak. i would bet money you have a brake line, caliper, or a wheel cylinder leaking.

3. Howard L Says: You probably have air in the brake lines due to the fluid being low. Bring it in someplace and have the brakes bled. That will most likely fix the problem. It's a very inexpensive fix, probably less than $30. There's always a possibility it's something more serious, a leak or a master cylinder problem, but start by having them bled.

4. mikey hernandes Says: You must have a leak since fluid was low. Minimum chance that this is a broken brake line. And worst case it will end up being the brake master cylinder that is not holding enough pressure. Check for source of leak and if pumping didn't work then the booster should either be completely failed or in working order thus meaning move on to lines/ master cylinder.

Good luck!

5. Paul Says: Bad/Weak Brakes Lines, Calipers or Rear Wheel Cylinders Leaking, Bad Master Cylinder leaking into Brake Booster Chamber, Etc.

6. Texas Wildman Says: yes you were lucky. more than likely your master cylinder. but get it checked out anyway.

7. shaun d Says: u must have a fluid leak find repair then u will need to bleed the air out of the system

8. Roger Says: check your break fluid again, if it is still full then the reason it was low is because the wear on the break pads and break shoes, as they wear fluid stays in the front calipers and rear wheel cylinders,
when you apply your breaks and the pedal sinks to the floor you barely feel them grab just a tiny bit on the way to the floor then nothing at all when the peddle is on the floor this would be a defective break booster, the big drum looking thing with a vacuum hose going to it mounted behind the master cylinder, I would replace it and the master cylinder both, check the break pads and shoes and replace the fluid.

9. al Says: you went 50mph with no brakes? either you've got some serious driving skills or your nuts.

stop driving the car. period. get it towed to a mechanic shop.

if you lost fluid... you HAVE A LEAK. there is no other explanation. now find the leak. jack the car up on each corner and have someone pump the brakes and find out where that leak is coming from. also check the master cylinder while you do this as the master cylinder may have failed and the seals are leaking in it. either way, if you dont know what you are doing, bring it to a mechanic. brakes arent something you want to take for granted.