YACT

[Zysoclaplem]

My brakes are starting to become softer and softer. I can still stop the car, but it takes alot more pushing than it used to.
It also squeals when I hit the brakes sometimes.
Does this sound like air in the fluid or worn brake pads? Perhaps a combination of both?
I have never changed the pads myself, as I have only had the car..8-9 months, but I know they haven't been changed in over a year.

Update:

Update:
Well I took it to a local place here, and they put the car through the usual routine. They drove it, checked the fluid, and everything in between. They said the brake system was fine. And although it was a bit soft, that there was basically nothing I can do about it.
They told me it will never have the braking of a newer car because its not a newer car. I would have to replace alot of things to get the stopping power of some of todays newer braking systems.
And they didn't charge me. Yay!
Anyways thanks for the help.

 

[ThePresence]

Sounds like you need new pads. It's really not that big a deal to do yourself.

 

[KLin]

worn brake pads.

 

[DougK62]

pads + flush fluid

 

[Zysoclaplem]

Originally posted by: ThePresence
Sounds like you need new pads. It's really not that big a deal to do yourself.

I have done it before, but this is a Volvo and I'm not sure how much different it is going to be. This Volvo has thrown me some curveballs before.
But I was quoted at $200+ to get just the pads replaced with $160 of that being labor.
Sorta scares me because this is a place I trust.

 

[ValValline]

What are their hourly rates? A simple pad R&R shouldn't cost more than 1-1.5 hours of book time.

 

[Zysoclaplem]

Originally posted by: ValValline
What are their hourly rates? A simple pad R&R shouldn't cost more than 1-1.5 hours of book time.

They said $40 per pad.
Everywhere else is the same.
I have called numerous businesses.

 

[Thegonagle]

You have fluid leak and/or failed master cylinder.

Don't drive it until it's fixed. Depending upon what's wrong, they could fail completely.

 

[astrosfan90]

Originally posted by: Thegonagle
You have fluid leak and/or failed master cylinder.

Don't drive it until it's fixed. Depending upon what's wrong, they could fail completely.

Yeah, I was gonna say something--squealing I get in my Volvo anytime the brakes need fixing, but I've never had the brakes "soften" on me before. That's just plain scary. Get that thing into the shop IMMEDIATELY.

And you drive a Volvo. Repairs are going to be expensive, it comes with the territory. I usually pay about the value of the car in repairs every year (sometimes more) and it's only 10 years old with 100,000 miles on it.

 

[Zysoclaplem]

Originally posted by: Thegonagle
You have fluid leak and/or failed master cylinder.

Don't drive it until it's fixed. Depending upon what's wrong, they could fail completely.

They aren't that bad...lol. The car stops fine.
It's not softening as in the pad hits the floor immediately. And they have been this way for a month or so.
The simplest conclusion I can come to is the pads, or that the brakes need bleeding.
I'd like to go and get them bled first, and see if thats the problem before I change the pads.

 

[V00DOO]

Like others have mentioned. It's either air in the brake lines or bad brake master cylinder. First thing I would try is bleeding the brakes and seeing if the problem goes away if not then it's most likely your brake master cylinder is bad. BTW what year and model is your car?

 

[Zysoclaplem]

Originally posted by: V00DOO
Like others have mentioned. It's either air in the brake lines or bad brake master cylinder. First thing I would try is bleeding the brakes and seeing if the problem goes away if not then it's most likely your brake master cylinder is bad. BTW what year and model is your car?

It's a 1992 Volvo 940 Turbo.
It's got probably 275k miles on the car and about 30k on the engine.

What are the symptoms of a bad master cylinder?

 

[DougK62]

What year/model? I daily drive a 1989 740GLE with 93k miles. I just replaced front and rear pads on it and it's really quite simple. I got pads from AutoZone and they were damn inexpensive - seem to work well.

 

[DougK62]

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem

Originally posted by: V00DOO
Like others have mentioned. It's either air in the brake lines or bad brake master cylinder. First thing I would try is bleeding the brakes and seeing if the problem goes away if not then it's most likely your brake master cylinder is bad. BTW what year and model is your car?

It's a 1992 Volvo 940 Turbo.
It's got probably 275k miles on the car and about 30k on the engine.

What are the symptoms of a bad master cylinder?

That's a nice car. Pads are easy to do on it.

A bad master cylinder is generally going to give you a spongey feeling in the pedal. Possibly needing to even pump the brakes to get it to stop.

 

[Zysoclaplem]

Originally posted by: DougK62

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem

Originally posted by: V00DOO
Like others have mentioned. It's either air in the brake lines or bad brake master cylinder. First thing I would try is bleeding the brakes and seeing if the problem goes away if not then it's most likely your brake master cylinder is bad. BTW what year and model is your car?

It's a 1992 Volvo 940 Turbo.
It's got probably 275k miles on the car and about 30k on the engine.

What are the symptoms of a bad master cylinder?

That's a nice car. Pads are easy to do on it.

A bad master cylinder is generally going to give you a spongey feeling in the pedal. Possibly needing to even pump the brakes to get it to stop.

No it stops without pumping. Pumping doesn't seem to help either way. It's just softer than it should be.
I just went and checked the fluid, its a dirty brown color and had a little grit to the feel. I think its just very old fluid.
I might need to flush the whole thing.

 

[Zysoclaplem]

Update:
Well I took it to a local place here, and they put the car through the usual routine. They drove it, checked the fluid, and everything in between. They said the brake system was fine. And although it was a bit soft, that there was basically nothing I can do about it.
They told me it will never have the braking of a newer car because its not a newer car. I would have to replace alot of things to get the stopping power of some of todays newer braking systems.
And they didn't charge me. Yay!
Anyways thanks for the help.

 

[The Stigenator]

most softness goes away with a fluid flush. That reminds me i got to do that on my next brake job, a flush of the brake fluids when i replace pads and rotors.