My brakes on my 98 sr5 v6 4x4 are a giving me some problems, they are underpowered (i've read about that) but I'm having an issue and it comes and goes. When I'm slowing down to turn or going over uneven ground (gravel, railroad tracks) and i'm on the brakes the front brakes go out and it feels like the tires are skipping. The brake pedal loses pressure and it goes to the floor, then i let off after stopping and the brakes are very soft. The tires never leave the ground, i just lose pressure when braking sometimes.

Anyone experienced this?

thanks for the info

 

Brake pedal going to the floor usually means Master cylinder.

Fluid could prolly use a good flushing also.

When was the last brake job?

 

Did you check the fluid level?

 

Check your fluid level, if its lower than normal than you have a leak. If the level is correct than its bipassing in the MC

 

Does the pedal kinda vibrate a bit, cause what your describing sounds like your ABS kicking in.

Check the rear drums for being out of round and or replace the shoes, replace the front rotors with brembo or good quality and hawk or similar pads.

That should cure your issues.

 

fluid level is fine, I'm not having any leaks from the lines either. the brakes go out and then come back quickly but the pedal is still soft, it only happens rarely, every few weeks or more but only when i'm braking into a slow turn or over gravel/tracks. it appears on to be the front brakes, i feel like i'm still slowing down but without the fronts braking.

I'll bleed the brakes and change the fluid.

Is there a way to pin down if it's the master cylinder?

thanks for the info.

 

Check the rears.

 

another item that is possible... if all else seems ok:

If the front bearings are going out sometimes the rotor will shift inside the caliper due to the extra play, pushing the calipers pistons/pads back slightly. When you depress the brake pedal the system has to cover the slack/space first giving an initial low pedal.

The low pedal on turns or rough surfaces made me think of this...

 

I'll take the brakes apart this weekend front and rear and check them out.

If everthing appears to be okay, how do i know if it's the master cylinder or not, do I just have to replace it if i can't find anything else?

racerx, that's interesting, is there any signs of this? noise or vibration?

thanks for the help