Expert: Sean Halliday - 12/31/2008

Question
QUESTION: brake pedal goes to floor when car is not moving when pressure is applied,but when brake pedal is pumped pedeal becomes normal.

ANSWER: You have lost hydraulic pressure and you have air in the system.You will need to check the front and rear to see where the leak is.Remove all 4 wheels and inspect the brake calipers and wheel cylinders if you have drums on the rear you will need to remove the drums.Inspect all metal brake lines under the car,flexible hoses as well.When you find the leak,repair the fault and then bleed the system.Could also be a leaking master cylinder,so check that too.I would recommend not driving this car with the brakes this way.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING.

A COMPLETE BRAKE JOB WAS DONE ON THIS VEHICLE,AND NO LEAKS WERE DETECTED AT THAT TIME.LOSS OF PEDAL DID NOT ACCRUE TILL AFTER BRAKE JOP WAS COMPLETED.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING AND WILL LOOK FORWARD TO ANSWER.

Answer
Them its obviously something they did or didnt do.I would go back to them.I cannot guess whats wrong with it,i can only tell you what could be wrong.That is what i have said regarding the air in the system or a leak.It must be air in the system,which could easily have gotten in if the brakes were worked on.Rear wheel cylinders may have been replaced or the pistons may have came out if the tech allowed them to as he was fitting shoes.