Quote:
Originally Posted by mabbonizio
It just feels like I have to apply more pressure than necessary for the car to come to a stop, or even for it to be held at a stop light in drive. Again, I base this off my experience with my 77 450SEL which required much less effort to come to a stop and hardly any to hold it at a stop in gear.
|
Let's discuss "effort" vs. "pedal travel". "Effort" is how hard you have to press the pedal (meaning you feel like it takes a lot of strength to press the pedal) and "pedal travel" means how far the pedal has to be pressed before it works (such as if it has to be pressed a decent ways before it seems to do anything).
If we're talking about "effort", you can test the booster easily enough. Work the brakes several times with the engine stopped. Note the feeling. Start the engine and work the brakes several times. Is the pedal a lot softer with greater travel? It should be if the booster is working and the vacuum pump is working.
An excessively firm brake pedal is unlikely to be the master cylinder. Your brake booster can have a torn diaphragm or leaking check valve, your vacuum pump may not be producing the vacuum you think it is, you could have seized up brake calipers, etc. Start with the basics, compare the pedal feeling with engine stopped vs engine running and get back to us.