just wondering whats up

it seems when I push in the brakes they do ok for normal braking but anytime I have to apply more then norma braking pressure it doesn't really stop any fast it just starts getting a manual brake feel... you know STIFF

it's kinda like you know the thing about diminishing returns

almost like that normal braking fine
but much above standard braking it doesn't add to the braking effort much


also notice that my e-brake doesn't seem to be grabbi nas well though I might be mistaken on that


and it isn't like this is a slow occurance it started happeneing all of a sudden more or less after getting some snow on the ground and all the moist and stuff just figured picked up some oils off the ground but then it kept going on so I donno and we haven't had any snow or wet since really

 

though one thing I forgot to mention is I didn't resurface the rotors when I did this and I am running the hawk hps pads

 

So if you apply a slow steady pressure the brakes are fine, but if apply any excessive pressure, the pedal requires extra force? Brake booster issues perhaps?

 

could be

alsot think I have a vacuum leak due to nice up and down idle issue

 

Did the two start to take shape around the same time (bad idle and the brake issue)? If so, I would look into fixing that vacuum leak.

 

actually not sure
I've always had a intake leak for least a year now being I broke the nipple and it isn't causing any damage yet that I can see but I think there is another intake leak around here somwhere else that is causing a little more of an issue

wish I could get my hands on a vacuum meter so I find out how much vacuum I'm pulling

any way to test the booster?


only thing I heard of doing is after the car is stopped you should still have enough vacuum left to push the brake once or twice with vacuum assist
is that true or is there some other way?

 

A vacuum gauge to the booster itself would be my first suggestion, yes. Perhaps, though, you may simply have a faulty check valve though. Cheap and easy to replace. Have you inspected all the brake lines?

Aside from that, you are correct in the being able to press the brake twice before the internal pressure is equalized. Run the engine for a short bit, allow full vacuum to generate then shut it off and test it. Another thing to try after you do that is, while the booster is in the depleted state, start the engine with pressure on the pedal. When started, the pedal should drop slightly. The double pedal push tests for leaks in the system, the latter tests the plunger for operation.