3

The brake pedal in my 06 Pontiac g6 seems harder to push than normal. Since the issue started, I've had the rear rotors and pads replaced, along with a control arm. For the first 10-15 minutes of city driving the brakes feel fine, but if I hit a bump while I'm braking, sometimes it feels like the ABS kicks in. I also found that the handbrake is easy to pull all the way up and hardly holds on a gentle incline. Is this a brake fluid issue or something else?

Improve this question
3
  • Not a fluid issue, I'd bet. I'm wondering if the e-brakes were put back on correctly, or if they were not adjusted properly when you had the rear brakes done.
    – Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2 ♦
    May 3, 2015 at 16:02
  • The e-brake has been like this since the brakes went hard.
    – Alex Volpe
    May 3, 2015 at 16:04
  • There are two types of e-brakes: where the cable actuates the rear brakes themselves, or there is a hat inside the brake rotor which has a set of brake shoes which act as the e-brake, independent of the rear brakes. I believe your's are the former. If they weren't adjusted correctly, the brakes would be actuated and the e-brake handle would be hard to pull up.
    – Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2 ♦
    May 3, 2015 at 16:07

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
1

It's possible you got used to the feeling of the pedal with some air in the system. If the air was flushed out when the brakes were 'bled' this would account for the additional firmness you feel. As long as the brake booster is working and the brakes were installed correctly, the firm brake pedal is a good thing.

Your parking brake is another story. It is a 'self adjusting' type that should tighten up on it's own. See this forum post - http://www.g6performance.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15491

If you did the brakes yourself, verify that you followed the procedure correctly (ask what it is in another question here, or do some searching online). If you had a shop perform the work, take it back in. A barely functioning emergency brake is a safety issue, and shouldn't leave a shop in that condition.

Improve this answer
0

I would have the front wheels bearings checked. A bad bearing can cause sensor misalignment and the ABS to activate. You may also have an issue with the power brake booster. The booster uses engine generated vacuum to assist with pedal effort. A leaking vacuum line may be reducing the vacuum and increase the pedal effort required to stop.

Improve this answer
4
  • The vacuum line is reading 20 inHg
    – Alex Volpe
    May 4, 2015 at 22:45
  • With the brakes applied?
    – mikes
    May 5, 2015 at 0:29
  • Yes but the needle on the gauge flutters between 18-22
    – Alex Volpe
    May 5, 2015 at 0:37
  • The passenger front wheel speed sensor was bad. Unfortunately I have to replace the whole bearing and hub.
    – Alex Volpe
    Oct 9, 2015 at 4:54

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .