Spongy Breaks

[itchyrichie69]

Today i just noticed that when i am breaking the breaks are feeling a bit spoungy and i have to push it right to the floor to slow the car, there seems to be less pressure in the break pedel... is it the break pads, break fluid lines or the break fluid thinning itself??? Can the hot weather have an effect on the break fluid???

[EuroDude]

Most likely the Brake Fluid has soaked up too much moisture and not performing well anymore.

Flush the brake fluid and refill with new DOT4 stuff. Your Honda may require Honda Brake Fluid depending on the model. Check the Brake Fluid cap, it should say "Use Honda DOTx Brake Fluid Only" or "Use DOT3/DOT4 Fluid only" or similar.

DIY Brake Fluid Flush:
http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11867


But if the brake pedal is slowly going down to the floor while you have it held down, then you may need to replace the Master Cylinder (The cylinder piston is leaking fluid)

DIY Master Cylinder Rebuild (leave it to a mech if you are not confident)
http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34893


:honda:

[itchyrichie69]

thanks heaps for that...

if i was to take the car to the mechanic how much would i be looking at if it were ;
break fluid flush
or
new break master cylinder ???

PS if the cylinder piston is leaking fluid would i notice it say on the garage floor? ? ? ?

[EuroDude]

Flushing the fluid only takes 30 minutes or so, so a mech would (should) charge a minimum 1hour labour ($100 more or less) plus the cost of the new fluid (~$15).

A new master cylinder requires a fluid flush and cylinder replacement and is a more expensive job. Expect about a 1hr -> 1.5hr labour charge, plus the cost of new fluid and cylinder. I'm not sure how much new cylinders cost though.. roughly $150 I imagine.



If the piston is leaking, the fluid would pass from the front of the cylinder to the back of it instead of compressing the fluid into the brake lines. I dont think it would exit the car and leak on the ground, unless there is a leak in the brake lines somewhere. not 100% sure about that though

[bennjamin]

usually the fluid leask from the master cylinder onto the front of the brake booster ~ and eats the paint away. Look for paint bubbles aroudn the master cylinder connection too

[itchyrichie69]

hmmmmmmmm

where is the master cylinder connection

[EK4R]

you mean the booster?? its on your chassis wall at the back next to your clutch fluid. you should see two small bottles on the driver side inside your hood.

[4agte]

yup master if leaking will look kinda like its sweating all moist arround the outside not allways dripping. This can be sometimes from the fluid sloshing arround at the track or hard street driving get some brake cleaner spray it onto th master wipe it dry and check periodicially to see if its still leaking.

That dyi brake bleeding tutorial is pretty good just one thing when you see the new fluid comming thru open and close the valve step a couple of more times to make 100% sure there isnt any air bubles or burnt brake fluid in there

[green_machine]

check colour of brake fluid(change it),check all brake lines and master cylinder for leaks

[panda[cRx]]

Can the hot weather have an effect on the break fluid???

that right there would signal it's ur brake master cylinder. it's fairly common on older cars

seeing as you don't know what it is a diy is prolly beyond you (sorry if i'm wrong lol) so take to your local trust worthy mechanic and get them to take it for a spin and check it out to confirm it