Brake failure 1990

[cccpman]

Less then a month ago I was on the highway heading back from armoury, sure a little speeding but an idiot pulls all the way over into my lane going 40, I have to hit the breaks pretty hard to slow down, while slowing the peddle becomes flaccid (yea and thats the best word to describe it heh), I couldnt really slow down from 80 in time so I had to speed up to be able to cut somebody else off to avoid any collision...

I had been told the guy at the local brakes plus was awesome, he has worked on alot of cars so thats the place I decided to go. He called me up to tell me it needed new lines, and he found some in colorado so he was driving out there to pick them up while talking to me - I paid out the a$$ for some lines or hoses or whatever he was wanting to put in (said they had almost split in two)

It was all repaired, and I got some brand new pads put on all four wheels just to get that nice strong feeling that lacks with the standard brakes on this beast. Today, I was headed out to do some running with my friend, it was cold so I let the car warm for 10 minutes before going - as soon as I got on a main street the emergency brake light comes on , I check and its not down at all (but its obvious its a warning) so at the red light I decided I would pull over to check the system with my limmited knowledge... but the brakes dont work so I go flying through the light and finally get going uphill so I can stop. I was told everything had a warrenty (30 days for some work, 90 for others, 120 for the pads) so Im going to head to brakes plus again and tell them to fix it right this time (but I belive they did a good job and its just bad luck on my part)

Anything I should know about that could be causing these failures, im not 100% sure its a hose but it felt exactly the same (if you slam them you get a slight pressure that dissipates quickly, do it 10 times and your slowing down - sounds like a cracked hose to me). I spent alot of money getting it fixed, I would go to infiniti but honostly the people here are so arrogant and lack all knowledge of these older cars (and the prices - literally I rather risk not being able to stop), the guy at brakes plus knows nothing about the older infinitis either - but you gearheads do so the topic is on the table

What do I need to be doing to keep the system working for as long as possible? What could be causing these (hopefully) unusual problems with the hoses?

I read somewhere the brake light comming on means low fluid - true/false? Good to know stuff

(Sorry about my limmited knowledge. So far I have only - Changed injectors, oil changes, filter changes, fuel pump, FPCU, blead breaks and added pads shortly after getting her - hell of a learning car)

[elwesso]

cheap brake lines are not something you play around with... Its an easy job you should have just done it yourself and bought new infiniti lines...

Did they repalce all 4 lines, or just the front ones?

[goody90q45]

Brake Master Cylinder?

[bullittandy]

If there is a brake line failure then there would be fluid leaking out and the pedal would go to the floor with little effort and no stopping. A rubber brake line failure (excluding some obvious assault) is pretty rare these days, especially compared to a master cylinder. Did the brakes ever work?Did the car slow down at all??If the pads were new, cheap and not broken in then they would significantly impede stopping.

[Q45tech]

By NOW a 16 year old car should have had EVERY BRAKE COMPONENT replaced or rebuilt [except the hardline tubing and maybe the vacuum booster].

I'm on my 3rd master cylinder, second ABS, and all flex lines have been replaced plus rehabbed 4 calipers [cleaned inside and new orings].

Only use oem pads U91/U93 front and U85 rear !

[louiegz]

Next time you do an emergency stop, you should do a down shift to use some engine braking if the brakes don't work. Yea, take it back to that guy and see if he can fix it.

[DrewQ45]

Been there...

zerothread?id=114717

[maxnix]

Did he bleed them correctly per the FSM? Did you use DOT4? Did he resurface the rotors? OEM pads? Were tehy bedded properly?

So many unkowns, but your super guy sounds like he's a power or three short of super.

[cccpman]

I guess one of the lines was just defective - he says they are all OEM lines (replaced them all the first time). Something about being flat on one side instead of the proper shape caused the failure along the left front brake hose (and it says 'And Flush System' so it sounds like it was done proper)

The pads are some nice ceramic ones, it has stopping power I have never felt (but im the 3rd owner) even after paying people like goodyear in the past to do work, although that doesnt mean much

Im not sure how exactly to get to the lines and I wouldnt know what I was doing so I rather take it to a professional. They got the car in as soon as they had an open area to work on it and went out themselves to grab some new lines and get them installed

Downshifting is good advice, but the car pulls hard in first even with breaks sometimes you wonder :P Warranty covers all

Next time I stop by I will ask to see if he keeps on hand a copy of the FSM or how he gets his instructions to put him to the test

Any preventive advice other then use the right parts and fluids? Thanks guys

[maxnix]

DOT4 and OEM pads on Trued OEM or acceptable aftermarket rotors. Only!
Modified by maxnix at 8:16 PM 10/4/2006

[elwesso]

OEM or better... Dont forget true performance pads like axxis and hawk (the latter i prefer)

[maxnix]

Dont forget true performance pads like axxis and hawk (the latter i prefer)

Haven't tried Hawk. Isn't Axxis the old Repco? OEM pads have performed flawlessly for the street.

[elwesso]

Haven't tried Hawk. Isn't Axxis the old Repco? OEM pads have performed flawlessly for the street.

Hawk pads dont really provide more stopping power (at least much anyway), but they dont fade as easy, which is something I appreciate.... They have a certain "bite" when cold, then you heat them up and they bite like crazy, and finally you heat them up big time they sorta go back to the cold bite.... Pretty pleased...

Switching to drilled/slotted rotors in the spring or summer.....