Dsm isn't braking good please help

[dsmcoder]

I have a 1g dsm and when I started driving my car today my brakes weren't stopping the car like they should be. When I came up to a stop sign and hit the brake the pedal felt like it would only go down an inch and not go any further and would barely stop as if I was only lightly pushing on the brakes.

What could cause this?

 

[GsxMan98]

Try bleeding the brakes and see what happens.

 

[my dreamt dsm]

Have you look at your brakes to see if you even have pads?

 

[dsmcoder]

This problem just started happening today, is there a guide on how to bleed the brakes?

Yes it looks like they still have life left and they don't make any noise.

 

[black91awdturbo]

Is there any brake fluid leaking around your brake booster/master cylinder?

 

[2gKerp]

A faulty brake booster could cause a hard brake pedal.

 

[koryto2012]

Bleed brakes. Be sure to pump the brakes when you get done for a few mins.

 

[MrCii]

No vaccum could cause loss in braking too... give the brake booster to intake hose a check for cracks.

 

[reddragon1]

Does it feel like you are pushing on a wall?

 

[dsmcoder]

Does it feel like you are pushing on a wall?

Yes it does

 

[Anthonyzarco]

Buy some brake fluid/ get a buddy, and a bucket.
On the brakes you will see nipple hanging off the brakes. You will want to find Wenches that let you loosen the nipple. Pump the
Brakes, then hold the brake pedal. Have your friend loosen the nipple and brake fluid will come out. When it stops coming out tighten the nipple and repeat Start at the rear passenger do it until you don't see bubbles(burping) and you have clean fluid. Then move to rear driver wheel. Then front passenger, last driver wheel.
Won't take long and if this is it it's the easiest fix/cheapest. Make sure you are keeping plenty of fluid in the brake cylinder under the hood. Don't let it run out, if it runs out of fluid you will suck air in the lines.
What were doing here is replacing the old fluid with new stuff and trying to get any air out of the lines. Make sure to check round for cracked lines as mentioned before and leaking after. Is there any fluid in your cylinder now?
Hope this helps, buy a repair manual btw. Post up the results!

 

[black91awdturbo]

Air does not magically get into the lines this is an indication that there is an issue that needs to be found and solved. I would suspect a faulty power brake booster and or a cracked vac lines as was mentioned. Is your brake fluid level down by the way?

 

[dsmcoder]

Yes the brake fluid resivor is full and I can't see any signs of a leak around the brake booster or master cylinder.

 

[Anthonyzarco]

Could be some nasty stuff if the lines man. Bleed that car! And auto
shops sell kits to do it alone if your friends are vaginas.

 

[reddragon1]

Yes it does

Then you have an issue with the brake booster. Check the line that runs to it. If no damage there then the booster needs to be replaced.

 

[Project91Tsi]

Then you have an issue with the brake booster. Check the line that runs to it. If no damage there then the booster needs to be replaced.

+1

Your booster is what gives you your power brakes. If the diaphragm inside is cracked, then your engine vacuum does not create a negative pressure differential inside the booster, eliminating the "power assist" and makes your brake system into a manual system. To boot, power assist systems typically use smaller diameter master cylinders and as a result, you get the hard pedal effort required to stop. Check your vacuum at the booster hose, if it is getting vacuum I must agree you most likely need a new booster.

 

[dsmcoder]

Is there anyway to test if the diaphragm is cracked?

 

[reddragon1]

Is there anyway to test if the diaphragm is cracked?

You need a vacunm pump.

 

[Talon IV]

+1

Your booster is what gives you your power brakes. If the diaphragm inside is cracked, then your engine vacuum does not create a negative pressure differential inside the booster, eliminating the "power assist" and makes your brake system into a manual system. To boot, power assist systems typically use smaller diameter master cylinders and as a result, you get the hard pedal effort required to stop. Check your vacuum at the booster hose, if it is getting vacuum I must agree you most likely need a new booster.

+2.
Sounds like you are not getting power assist from your booster. I would se about getting a vacuum pump and doing a good ispection to your brake booster and supporting lines. Also if you cant remember getting your brakes flushed in the last two years, getting some new fluid would help just for safety sake.
Now if you had air in your lines or very low pads you would either hear a grinding noise and low pedal or if air entered the system, a squishy, spongey pedal

 

[BigTyla]

Definitely a booster issue. Check the easy things first - the line coming from the plenum to the booster.

 

[dsmcoder]

My brakes started working normal all of a sudden, could the brake booster problem be intermittent?

 

[Dsmtalin]

Sounds to me like the actuator arm in the booster is sticking for some reason try pumping your brakes with the engine running and see if it gets stuck and also try doing a quick single pump to see if it binds up

 

[dsmcoder]

I just noticed something, when I turn my a/c on my vacuum goes to about 10 and my brakes start to suck. Is this normal?

 

[jtmcinder]

Test the one-way valve between the intake and booster.