brakes not grabbing.

[cdvs]

Originally Posted by dannmarr

If the brake is hard but then softly hits bottom, then you have air in the line.

Air in the system usually feels exactly the opposite, mushy then firms up, once the air is compressed.

However, sometimes, perhaps depending on where the air pocket is located, it just causes poor performance and can't be felt in the pedal response.

The symptom you have described is either an external leak, or an internal leak in the master cylinder.

[dannmarr]

You are correct. I experienced both problems (air in the line and a leak in the line) and I mixed the two symptoms. If it's hard then soft, it's likely a leak. Thanks.

[SVXgarcia]

So I bleed the brakes properly and in the right order and they seem to be stopping better but they don't stop righ away. so problem still not solved. I will remove the booster and master cylinder from my silver SVX tomorrow and replaced the master cylinder first or should I do both? ar there any how to's on doing this? also what do you mean by leak in the line? did you mean leak in the master cylinder?

[cdvs]

Looking at the manual, removing the booster is a complicated and non-intuitive process involving draining some AFT fluid and removing the A/C low pressure line, in the 14 step procedure. I'm not aware, but didn't look for any how to's.

One of the things that needs to be removed is the master cylinder. So, I'd start there. It's a simpler and intuitive job. Remember to bleed the system afterward.

A leak in the line would be fluid leaking out of the system. A leak in the master cylinder is internal, no fluid is lost, but performance sufffers.

Good luck.

[SVXgarcia]

I was never quite sure if the engine has to be running when bledding the brakes? or does it have to be off?

[cdvs]

Originally Posted by SVXgarcia

I was never quite sure if the engine has to be running when bledding the brakes? or does it have to be off?

It doesn't have to be either, so no reason to have it running.

[SVXgarcia]

Thank you. I just finish installing the master cylinder, it was easier then i expected. Thanks for all you r help with this.

[Earthworm]

Have you replaced the booster yet?