Guys,

I have noticed recently that occasionally when I brake aggresively either straight line or around a corner (No ABS though) about half way down the pedal seems to "hang up" on something. It has been very cold here 5-15 °F in the morning. When this "hanging up" happens the red BRAKE light comes on and stays on for about 15 seconds. This is freaking me out, any ideas??

 

Your brake pedal shouldn't be going half way down, it should be at the top with little travel. Sounds like a bad master cyl. I recommend you have it checked out be a brake shop.

 

Yeah, probably nothing that a new master cylinder won't fix.

 

Whoops,

I mean that 1/2 way down in the travel it seems to stick. What are the other simptoms of a bad master cylinder. Do my symptoms also indicate that something is might be up with the ABS?

 

pour some sand on your driveway... get up to 10mph (if you can)then stand on em... sure fire way to know if abs is working

 

I still think master cylinder. A "sticking" feeling is usually going to come from something mechanical, either in the linkage of the pedal or the rod that goes to the master cylinder or pistons in the master cylinder, itself (where I think you r problem is). I don't think it is anything in the vacuum booster because it would not cause the brake light to come on.
Just one person's opinion.

 

Hey all,

Just to update you all I replaced my rear brake pads and the light and sticking are gone. I think the master cylinder piston was going down too far and hitting the (dashboard) brake warning light. Havn't noticed any problems with brakes since replacement. And I have been driving the car really hard since my accident.

 

It might have been wise to check your pads in the beginning. The master cylinder could still be the source of the sticking, but now the pedal is not going down as far because of the new pads, so it does not get to the sticky point in the travel. The light comes on due to pressure, not pedal travel.
Anyway, I guess you are good to go for a while.

 

Unfortunatly sticky brake pedals are the least of my worries now. Now since I crashed my car it seems that the right rear wheel brakes (The side with new pads + rotor) seem to drag. I think the car rolled off the jack and may have bent the parking brake assembly.