By Tom (203.109.252.15) on Wednesday, August 01, 2001 - 02:39 am:

I was wondering about the brakes on my 1979 hondamatic civic, they seem to not slow the car down very fast at all and you pretty much have to push the brake pedal right down hard everytime you want to stop whether it be slowly coming up to a red light or in a moment of danger, ive been told that this might be just because it doesnt have a brake booster only being a small car. is this how the brakes are on these cars and i have to put up with it? or can i get a brake booster or is there somthing wrong with my car?

By Jonathan (192.216.198.164) on Wednesday, August 01, 2001 - 04:25 am:

I had the same problem with my 79. You need to buy a bunch of brake fluid and bleed the brakes from the left rear, right rear, left front, then right front. This way, you'll get all the air out of your break lines which was the main cause of all my mushiness problems. Also, check your rear brakes to see if they need to be adjusted a little tighter. Hope that helps!
Jonathan
Portland,OR

By Anonymous (208.160.214.118) on Wednesday, August 01, 2001 - 11:33 am:

Check setting of brake pads. make sure they are adjusted correctly in rear drums. front you need to check for wear. Always brake lube moving parts. They get rusty from age.

By John S. (207.160.163.91) on Wednesday, August 01, 2001 - 12:14 pm:

That car has a vaccum booster, but it may not be functioning properly...don't forget that these cars are twenty years old .

By Tom (203.109.252.19) on Thursday, August 02, 2001 - 05:21 am:

Thanks for the info people

By ddechon (12.78.117.20) on Wednesday, August 08, 2001 - 05:31 pm:

I know I'm replying to this ad a little late, but I thought I had some good advice. I noticed that when the rear brakes are out of adjustment, the emergency brake doesn't work well. If you pull the e-brake and it goes all the way up...your back brakes may need adjustment. Or if you pull your e-brake and it doesn't work well....your rear brake may need adjustment. I mention this because I had friends with civics and they complained that their e-brake didn't work well. I had the same problem until I adjusted my rear brakes. : )

I had to get that out.
ddechon