Brakes on a 97 Civic
 

Hi Group, I have a question in regards to the brake pedal on my 97 Civic. It
has front disc, and rear drums. I have had the car for six months now, and
the brake pedal has always been low. It stops just about an inch or two
above the floor. The pedal is not spongy, I have bleed the hell out of it,
has at least 50% left of pads and shoes, I even replaced the master
cylinder. The flex lines are good, no expansion. The brakes work fine, it
just has a very low pedal. If anyone can shed some light on this, I would
really appreciate it.

Thanks,
Weldon

Re: Brakes on a 97 Civic
 

On 02/08/2010 07:07 PM, wjcimbri wrote:
> Hi Group, I have a question in regards to the brake pedal on my 97 Civic. It
> has front disc, and rear drums. I have had the car for six months now, and
> the brake pedal has always been low. It stops just about an inch or two
> above the floor. The pedal is not spongy, I have bleed the hell out of it,
> has at least 50% left of pads and shoes, I even replaced the master
> cylinder. The flex lines are good, no expansion. The brakes work fine, it
> just has a very low pedal. If anyone can shed some light on this, I would
> really appreciate it.
>
> Thanks,
> Weldon
>
>

are the brake drums self-adjusting properly? can you hear them click
when you back them off, then pump with the brake pedal?

if you replaced the master cylinder, is the travel the same as it was
before?

Re: Brakes on a 97 Civic
 

Yes, the rear brakes are self adjusting, and they are adjusted properly. The
travel is the same with the new master cylinder.


"jim beam" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:Ctmdnc4CkpcUT-3WnZ2dnUVZ_tBi4p2d@speakeasy.net...
> On 02/08/2010 07:07 PM, wjcimbri wrote:
>> Hi Group, I have a question in regards to the brake pedal on my 97 Civic.
>> It
>> has front disc, and rear drums. I have had the car for six months now,
>> and
>> the brake pedal has always been low. It stops just about an inch or two
>> above the floor. The pedal is not spongy, I have bleed the hell out of
>> it,
>> has at least 50% left of pads and shoes, I even replaced the master
>> cylinder. The flex lines are good, no expansion. The brakes work fine, it
>> just has a very low pedal. If anyone can shed some light on this, I would
>> really appreciate it.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Weldon
>>
>>
>
> are the brake drums self-adjusting properly? can you hear them click when
> you back them off, then pump with the brake pedal?
>
> if you replaced the master cylinder, is the travel the same as it was
> before?

Re: Brakes on a 97 Civic
 

On 02/08/2010 07:49 PM, wjcimbri wrote:
> Yes, the rear brakes are self adjusting, and they are adjusted properly.

i'll take your word for it, but how do you know? what did you check?


> The
> travel is the same with the new master cylinder.

in inches, how much travel before the brakes start to engage?


>
>
> "jim beam"<me@privacy.net> wrote in message
> news:Ctmdnc4CkpcUT-3WnZ2dnUVZ_tBi4p2d@speakeasy.net...
>> On 02/08/2010 07:07 PM, wjcimbri wrote:
>>> Hi Group, I have a question in regards to the brake pedal on my 97 Civic.
>>> It
>>> has front disc, and rear drums. I have had the car for six months now,
>>> and
>>> the brake pedal has always been low. It stops just about an inch or two
>>> above the floor. The pedal is not spongy, I have bleed the hell out of
>>> it,
>>> has at least 50% left of pads and shoes, I even replaced the master
>>> cylinder. The flex lines are good, no expansion. The brakes work fine, it
>>> just has a very low pedal. If anyone can shed some light on this, I would
>>> really appreciate it.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Weldon
>>>
>>>
>>
>> are the brake drums self-adjusting properly? can you hear them click when
>> you back them off, then pump with the brake pedal?
>>
>> if you replaced the master cylinder, is the travel the same as it was
>> before?
>
>

Re: Brakes on a 97 Civic
 

I removed the drums and checked the hardware, and verified the drag on the
drum.




"jim beam" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:cOydnWB8ZLT7fe3WnZ2dnUVZ_uxi4p2d@speakeasy.ne t...
> On 02/08/2010 07:49 PM, wjcimbri wrote:
>> Yes, the rear brakes are self adjusting, and they are adjusted properly.
>
> i'll take your word for it, but how do you know? what did you check?
>
>
>> The
>> travel is the same with the new master cylinder.
>
> in inches, how much travel before the brakes start to engage?
>
>
>>
>>
>> "jim beam"<me@privacy.net> wrote in message
>> news:Ctmdnc4CkpcUT-3WnZ2dnUVZ_tBi4p2d@speakeasy.net...
>>> On 02/08/2010 07:07 PM, wjcimbri wrote:
>>>> Hi Group, I have a question in regards to the brake pedal on my 97
>>>> Civic.
>>>> It
>>>> has front disc, and rear drums. I have had the car for six months now,
>>>> and
>>>> the brake pedal has always been low. It stops just about an inch or two
>>>> above the floor. The pedal is not spongy, I have bleed the hell out of
>>>> it,
>>>> has at least 50% left of pads and shoes, I even replaced the master
>>>> cylinder. The flex lines are good, no expansion. The brakes work fine,
>>>> it
>>>> just has a very low pedal. If anyone can shed some light on this, I
>>>> would
>>>> really appreciate it.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> Weldon
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> are the brake drums self-adjusting properly? can you hear them click
>>> when
>>> you back them off, then pump with the brake pedal?
>>>
>>> if you replaced the master cylinder, is the travel the same as it was
>>> before?
>>
>>
>

Re: Brakes on a 97 Civic
 

On 02/09/2010 06:42 PM, wjcimbri wrote:
> I removed the drums and checked the hardware, and verified the drag on the
> drum.

there shouldn't be any drag on the drum when properly adjusted. if the
threads on the adjuster screw are rusted or even greased, they can fail
to self-adjust. i recommend removal, cleaning, refitting, then checking
operation.

to check operation, reassemble screwed all the way in, then when
reassembled, press on the brake pedal 20 times. each time you release,
you should hear the self-adjuster click. then remove the drum again and
be sure you can see the adjuster has screwed itself out a few mm. if it
has, reassemble and pump the pedal until the clicking stops. you then
should be good. if not, you need to clean and reassemble again. no grease.

what is the pedal travel before engagement?



>
>
>
>
> "jim beam"<me@privacy.net> wrote in message
> news:cOydnWB8ZLT7fe3WnZ2dnUVZ_uxi4p2d@speakeasy.ne t...
>> On 02/08/2010 07:49 PM, wjcimbri wrote:
>>> Yes, the rear brakes are self adjusting, and they are adjusted properly.
>>
>> i'll take your word for it, but how do you know? what did you check?
>>
>>
>>> The
>>> travel is the same with the new master cylinder.
>>
>> in inches, how much travel before the brakes start to engage?
>>
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "jim beam"<me@privacy.net> wrote in message
>>> news:Ctmdnc4CkpcUT-3WnZ2dnUVZ_tBi4p2d@speakeasy.net...
>>>> On 02/08/2010 07:07 PM, wjcimbri wrote:
>>>>> Hi Group, I have a question in regards to the brake pedal on my 97
>>>>> Civic.
>>>>> It
>>>>> has front disc, and rear drums. I have had the car for six months now,
>>>>> and
>>>>> the brake pedal has always been low. It stops just about an inch or two
>>>>> above the floor. The pedal is not spongy, I have bleed the hell out of
>>>>> it,
>>>>> has at least 50% left of pads and shoes, I even replaced the master
>>>>> cylinder. The flex lines are good, no expansion. The brakes work fine,
>>>>> it
>>>>> just has a very low pedal. If anyone can shed some light on this, I
>>>>> would
>>>>> really appreciate it.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>> Weldon
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> are the brake drums self-adjusting properly? can you hear them click
>>>> when
>>>> you back them off, then pump with the brake pedal?
>>>>
>>>> if you replaced the master cylinder, is the travel the same as it was
>>>> before?
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>

Re: Brakes on a 97 Civic
 

"wjcimbri" <wjcimbri@optonline.net> wrote in
news:4b70d17e$0$31284$607ed4bc@cv.net:

> Hi Group, I have a question in regards to the brake pedal on my 97
> Civic. It has front disc, and rear drums. I have had the car for six
> months now, and the brake pedal has always been low. It stops just
> about an inch or two above the floor. The pedal is not spongy, I have
> bleed the hell out of it, has at least 50% left of pads and shoes, I
> even replaced the master cylinder. The flex lines are good, no
> expansion. The brakes work fine, it just has a very low pedal. If
> anyone can shed some light on this, I would really appreciate it.
>
> Thanks,
> Weldon
>
>


I have LOTS to say on this one. but don't have the time just now to write
it up.

In short, you have numersous problems.

--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/