Members,
my 1996 LS400 brakes is working in the sense that when I mash the foot brakes, It holds and stops the car good. However, when I do mash, it feels spongey and then goes low.

Would "bleeding" the foot brakes solve this issue ?


I have observed that the fluid in my master cylinder is dark in colour.

Does this mean that my rubbers need changing ?
Would changing the rubbers in my Master cylinder lead to the "collapsing" or "binding" of my Master cylinder, ultimately destroying the entire master cylinder?

I have observed that my Hand Brakes is not holding well unless I mash down completely to the floor. Does this mean that I can have it adjusted, or should I change break shoes?


As such, please provide me with links/part number for
1)Breaks shoes
2)Rubbers for my Master Cylinder

 

More likely than not, you have some air somewhere in the system which needs to be bled out, and the Parking brake simply needs its periodic adjustment since it can't adjust itself.

If the fluid is really black then its likely just old and needs to be replaced.

The master cylinder can be rebuilt, but for how critical that part is, I would'nt bother and just replace it as a whole if it were to go bad.

If i recall, a bad master cylinder will stop the car, but will lose pressure and the brake pedal will slowly sink to the floor, and sometimes the car will start creeping afterwards too. I have never had one go bad on me though, i've only done Clutch cylinders.

For the Original US market Master cylinder, the part # is: 47201-50150, but don't you have a JDM model? It may be different...

 

I had a master cylinder give out on my 1980 chevy truck and it had NO brakes at all. I would check pads, rotors and bleed the system. replace pads etc. if necesary. check the rear brake shoes although they generally dont wear very quick., they probably do just need an adjustment. in my experience a bad calipers generally lock up and dont move. ive had them rebuilt in the past with no problems. those are just my experiences though.


Posted from ClubLexus.com App for Android

 

9/10 likely just needs to be bled/flushed.

 

Really Helpful ! thanks....and Engine / Mechanicals are pretty much the same for the JDM and USM....its only an issue where RHD /LHD mechanicals, and well the JDM center console is different..

 

Thanks DC893 and Puredrifter

 

you are welcome. ive probably had 3 calipers rebuilt. all 3 in japan for some reason. 2 of those were on a 90 celsior. i dont know why i constantly had calipers seizing up in japan, never had that issue anywhere else i lived.


Posted from ClubLexus.com App for Android

 

I worry about the trapped air in the ABS hydraulic unit. If so and when you bleed it, you need to activate solenoids and the pump in it using an special equipment for it. But there is a poor man's method below.

It is not easy to bleed the ABS hydraulic unit without the equipment but the method below is mostly effective.
1, Do hard brakings at snowy road, badly wet road or unpaved road to activate the ABS and you confirm the pulsations on your brake pedal.
2, Do the bleeding.
3, Repeat 1 and 2 until the air is all out.

 

http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/brake/bleeding.html

This is for a 90-94 LS but it should be similar to a 95+. Personally this is what I would try first.