Civic brakes
 

The car is a '89 civic lx. When I step on the brakes the pedal goes down about 3/4 of the way before anything happens. The pads, and calipers (front at least) are fine. The fluid is kinda dark but I did bleed the system. So anyone have an idea what it could be. Oh the parking brake doesn't do ---- either. You pull it up all the way, and it does absolutely nothing. There is tension on the cable, but nothing happens. Anyone know what that could be? I'm just about to go rip apart the back brakes and see if I can find anything, but any ideas are welcome.

Re:Civic brakes
 

change the fluid and maybe the brake lines are shot.the hoses might be expanding when you step on the pedal.if not the easy stuff,the master cylinder is crappin out.it is an 89 civic....

Re:Civic brakes
 

go backwards at a descent pace, and pull the e-brake, it should retension the rear brakes and you should be good to go.

Re:Civic brakes
 

Didn't get a chance to rip apart the brakes because it started raining. But now I'm thinking its my master cylinder. Any other ideas?

Re:Civic brakes
 

Maybe you need to replace or adjust your rear brakes pads? If they're not engaging with the parking brake, does that mean they don't work when you hit the brake pedal? I don't think yanking on the e-brake has anything to do with compression or the master cylinder, just good old fashioned leverage.

Re:Civic brakes
 

Since you have no e-brake it makes me think that your self adjusters are not working on the rear (I assume you have drum in the back) If you do what jung4g said and back up and pull they should re-adjust...but they like to stick if they get all gummed up with brake ----. I would just replace the rear shoes and read adjust them, they are really cheap anyway, probly like 15 or 20 bucks...

Re:Civic brakes
 

I was thinking the front and rear, are two different problems.

Re:Civic brakes
 

The adjuster in the rear brake drums determine the pedal height...

Re:Civic brakes
 

I agree, you might need to replace the lines, because it sounds ;liek you have some pressure, but something is takin alot of it away. Get some steelbraided lines ;D

Re:Civic brakes
 

just try this, seriously

Back up and a descent speed and pull hard. That's how you are supposed to adjust the brakes, and if the back are really warn down, this should help a lot.