Rosadoc-Z

I got an issue with my 87 IROC. Tonight i was driving and everything was normal other than the squeeking sounds letting me know i need to replace the pads. But as I was driving back home, I pressed on the brakes as i approached a red light and noticed that i need to press it down extra hard to stop the car. The first half of the pedal's travel doesnt stop the car at all. This came out of nowhere but what also puzzled me was that the Parking Brake light came on and stayed on even with the e-brake handle down or up. When i got home, i noticed that if i pull the parking brake up, it doesnt stop the car at all.

I went out a few hours later to try it out again and it still has the same issues. Any help or suggestions?

Rosadoc-Z

i dont know if anyone is can help me but today i tried driving around and slamming on the brakes. Suddenly everything works as usual (pedal is strong again and e-brake light doesnt stay on at all times). Any idea what caused that and why slamming on the brakes fixed it?

DJP87Z28

Parking Brake Light is also the warning light for brake pads need replacing. The noise you hear is the pads digging into the rotors. Your brake repairs bill is gone up

TekViper

The red brake warning light (what you are calling the parking brake light) also comes on when there is a significant difference in pressure between the front and rear hydraulic brake circuits. From what you are describing it sounds like a brake line blew out (first half of the brake doesn't stop the car). First check your brake fluid level, it is probably low. Top it off and have someone pump the brake pedal in park while you look underneath it for a leak. If you can't see a leak anywhere under the car and you have drum brakes its possible a wheel cylinder blew out inside the drum if the fluid is low. Your parking brake not working may just be something that had a problem all along but you haven't noticed it until now.

Rosadoc-Z

well i dont got any leaks, and the brake fluid is good, and i got rear discs. I'm gonna go ahead and change rotors and pads this weekend and see if it happens again. Although I did drive the car alot these past two days and its been fine, except for the squeeling sound of the wasting pads.

Gummie

Not true. I don't even think modern cars have this feature. The brake light comes on under two conditions: parking break lever up and:

(it could also be caused by air in the lines)

The first time my light came on I blew a break line. Pedal fell to the floor, had basically no braking power, etc. I fixed the line and the light went off. The second time the light came on it was because fluid was leaking out from around where the line bolts to the front calipers. I replaced the crush washers and everything was fine again.

Under no conditions would a break problem magically fix its self. I suggest tossing the car in the air, or at least jacking it up, and looking for wet spots. The brakes are the one thing you really don’t want to mess around with.