Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Brakes help with brakes

When i am traveling in the city at a moderate speed and press on the brakes gently to come to a stop. i feel slip in the pedel and the brakes the car comes to a stop but doesnt feel right. but when i press on the brakes hard there isnt a problem. also on the highway i dont experience this problem when braking. any ideas what is causing this problem

Do you have rear drums or discs? If drums, I'd pull the drums off and check the condition of the rear shoes. I've seen bonded shoes come apart and have these same symtoms. Something is causeing the pedal to drop, so something is allowing either the wheel cylinder pistons or the caliper piston to quickly take up space. As the front disc brakes are as simple as they get, I would look more at your rears.

thanks for your input i think i have discs but i am not 100% sure. they are the standard brakes that come on a 99 lx. i have not done any mods to the brakes front or rear.

If you are not sure if you have disc or drum I can confidently predict that you have never bled your brake system. Air in the lines is one of the more likely possible causes for your symptoms.

Brake fluid needs to be replaced once a year minimum for optimal performance (firm predictable pedal). Brake fluid deteriorates over time, absorbing moisture and collecting gas bubbles, causing inconsistent brake performance and brake part corrosion.

Bleeding brakes is dead simple if you understand the technique and have access to tools â?? otherwise, take it to a brake shop and make sure they do both front and rear.

This is a simple maintenance procedure that you should do regularly anyway - it may also be the solution to your problem.