Lost Stopping Power

[blue62]

Originally Posted by particlewave

A couple months ago, I took the car out for a drive and had significantly reduced stopping power (pads are relatively new). I flushed the brakes and that helped a little, but not much.

The booster appears to be ok and it is getting 18” of vacuum (the pedal is not hard and it passed the “hold pedal and start car” test).

My only thought is a stuck caliper. Earlier this summer, the car did get put away wet and the rotors rusted a bit and froze to the pads...

Any other thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

your rubber? lines between the hard line and the calipers can have issues.
They can swell inside and cause problems with the brakes releasing acting like a stuck caliper.
Or they can soften causing them to swell when you apply the brakes thus less clamping force at the caliper.
From you description:
You may possibly have the second problem.

[Gilles]

Originally Posted by blue62

your rubber? lines between the hard line and the calipers can have issues.
They can swell inside and cause problems with the brakes releasing acting like a stuck caliper.
Or they can soften causing them to swell when you apply the brakes thus less clamping force at the caliper.
From you description:
You may possibly have the second problem.

I had this issue before with the rear brakes on the Alfa transaxle, they were 'balloning' (blistering..?) under pressure, but otherwise look normal without pressure.

How old are your rubber brake hoses? You may want to replace them, as they do age and are not too expensive..

PS: just remember that I also had the same failure but with an old slave cylinder rubber hose (also on the Alfa..)

[Topless]

A 20 yr old car so jammed caliper, failed master cyl, or internally failed brake lines are all possible. I am not a total fanboy of aftermarket SS braided brake lines but would consider replacing with OEM as just good maintenance at this point. Was there any noticeable discoloration when you flushed the brake fluid? This will often reveal contamination or failed seals.

Normally when pads get replaced the caliper pistons will visually move during the process. I want to see them move freely to make sure nothing is binding.

Process of elimination:
1. Crappy pads
2. Aged out brake lines
3. Caliper piston binding
4. Failed master cyl.

What else?