at 1.5 years old and 90,000 miles i have another problem with my sonic. I was coming off the high way at 70 mph and when i pushed on the breaks the peddle was rock hard. i pushed harder and heard a pop and the peddle went to the floor. thank god my car is a stick and i was able to down shift to slow down. i kept pumping the breaks and one started to work when the peddle was on the floor. i made a safe stop at the end of the ramp. i limped into the gas station that was around the corner and checked everything out. everything i could see was fine. i restarted the car and still had only one break, the right rear. this was enough to get the car to the dealer for repair. they took the car and the next day they called me and said that my master cylinder went out. this is a BIG problem with me. i have been driving for 24 years and i have had several master cylinders go out and the breaks still worked. the way the breaks died on my car was a disaster waiting to happen. if i would have been in an automatic i would have crashed hard. the car being only 1.5 years old and only 90,000 miles i think the master cylinder should not go out. of course this is not covered and will cost me about 400.00 I should get it back today. there was no warning about this being a problem. the breaks have been awesome up to this point. its sad that this is the quality of parts used to built these cars. i am just glad that i didnt hurt somebody..
no brakes
- Thread starter mcknz323
- Start date
Scot
Athletic Supporter
Whoa.
Wait. Maybe that's not the right word to use. I've never heard of the brakes failing like that. I've failed brake lines from stomping too hard on the brakes.
Since you're out of warranty, be very happy it wasn't your ABS pump / related part$. Glad to hear you were able to stop.
One question - what about your parking brake? I don't know where you're at or the weather conditions (cranking the e-brake at 70mph on ice would be very invigorating) - but I wonder if something froze up in your brake system and pushing on your brakes harder caused the failure within the M/C.
I would highly suggest you have a brake fluid flush as part of this service / fix.
Wait. Maybe that's not the right word to use. I've never heard of the brakes failing like that. I've failed brake lines from stomping too hard on the brakes.
Since you're out of warranty, be very happy it wasn't your ABS pump / related part$. Glad to hear you were able to stop.
One question - what about your parking brake? I don't know where you're at or the weather conditions (cranking the e-brake at 70mph on ice would be very invigorating) - but I wonder if something froze up in your brake system and pushing on your brakes harder caused the failure within the M/C.
I would highly suggest you have a brake fluid flush as part of this service / fix.
PlayCrackTheSky
Member
It doesn't matter how quickly the miles were put on. This is still a catastrophic failure that shouldn't have occurred...especially at 90k/1.5yrs. Glad to hear that you handled the situation well and no one was injured.
I'm at 24k in 5 months. Not sure about you, but I bought my car to drive.
Blue hedgehog
New member
That sucks about your brakes. It's a good thing you were able to stop without an accident. I don't understand how you only had 1 rear brake though. Doesn't he master have 2 lines 1 for the front and 1 for the rear feeding the abs valve?
Also a side note if you had an auto (and for anyone with an auto) you could shift it into manual mode and downshift manually. You just have to know to do it. Most people with a manual are use to down shifting where as a auto driver doesn't usually downshift.
Also a side note if you had an auto (and for anyone with an auto) you could shift it into manual mode and downshift manually. You just have to know to do it. Most people with a manual are use to down shifting where as a auto driver doesn't usually downshift.
ahtoxa
New member
Sometimes things just brake.
Ok, bad puns aside, sometimes things really do just break. If it can be made, then it can be broken. Having said that - I'm glad that all worked out for you. I'm glad that neither you, nor anyone else was injured. Certainly, your unhappiness is justified, but in the grand perspective, you're probably a very isolated case, which happens once in a million, maybe. It's like getting killed by a falling toilet - that actually happened.
Too bad that engine braking does very little on a small engine and the smaller the engine, the less engine braking there will be.
Ok, bad puns aside, sometimes things really do just break. If it can be made, then it can be broken. Having said that - I'm glad that all worked out for you. I'm glad that neither you, nor anyone else was injured. Certainly, your unhappiness is justified, but in the grand perspective, you're probably a very isolated case, which happens once in a million, maybe. It's like getting killed by a falling toilet - that actually happened.
Too bad that engine braking does very little on a small engine and the smaller the engine, the less engine braking there will be.
SuperFudd
Member
That IS a weird master cylinder failure mode. I have had master cylinders fail but not at all like that.
As I recall, starting in 1968 all USA brake systems had to be dual. If one system failed the other should still work well enough. I had 150,000 on my dearly departed rustic green '94 Sundance and never had a master cylinder problem.
Maybe you had a linkage failure? What kind of brake pedal "linkage" do our Sonics have?
As I recall, starting in 1968 all USA brake systems had to be dual. If one system failed the other should still work well enough. I had 150,000 on my dearly departed rustic green '94 Sundance and never had a master cylinder problem.
Maybe you had a linkage failure? What kind of brake pedal "linkage" do our Sonics have?
I'm so glad you're ok!! Jesus, that's just terrifying.
Ok, to those of us with automatics, will someone please kindly talk us through the steps in case this happens to one of us? If I shift into manual mode, it goes to M1 - isn't it too dramatic a downshift from highway speeds? And if the road is clear, is using the parking break preferable? How about shifting into neutral to at least slow down?
Again, sorry about what happened to you- thank god you were ok! Now let's all learn how to react if this isn't an isolated incident.
Ok, to those of us with automatics, will someone please kindly talk us through the steps in case this happens to one of us? If I shift into manual mode, it goes to M1 - isn't it too dramatic a downshift from highway speeds? And if the road is clear, is using the parking break preferable? How about shifting into neutral to at least slow down?
Again, sorry about what happened to you- thank god you were ok! Now let's all learn how to react if this isn't an isolated incident.
ahtoxa
New member
Pounamu, the car's computer won't let you downshift too far down. It will let you downshift as much as possible without getting into the redline. Downshift like that in conjunction with using the handbrake. In this case, ALWAYS press the handbrake release button with your thumb and hold it. Do NOT let the handbrake lock up when you are using it in this situation.
just an update and comments to some posts. yes i know the parking brake is there but i didnt have to use it.. i agree with the problem NOT being the master cylinder only. i think i had several things go bad at the same time. i am still waiting for the dealership to let me know it is done. they had a hard time getting the part in. it should be done today.
yes master cylinders have 2 lines, one to the front and one to the rear. why i had only one rear brake i have to idea.. that is why i think there is more than one bad part. i just cant believe that they went out at the same time. it is a safety hazard in my book. I dont know if i will ever trust them the same again.
yes master cylinders have 2 lines, one to the front and one to the rear. why i had only one rear brake i have to idea.. that is why i think there is more than one bad part. i just cant believe that they went out at the same time. it is a safety hazard in my book. I dont know if i will ever trust them the same again.
AxelRipper
Member
Sounds like a freak failure. But its reasons like this why the car has an Emergency Brake.
mja
Site Supporter
This has happened to my car in the last few weeks. A few times/week vacuum to my brakes gives out and I have to hit the pedal with manual pedal feel. It's disconcerting.
It happens, I have manual brakes for a few pumps, and the my ABS light goes off and my brakes are fine again :sadbanana:
If anyone has any ideas, I'm all ears.
I couldn't imagine losing manual brake pressure in that situation, talk about scary.
It happens, I have manual brakes for a few pumps, and the my ABS light goes off and my brakes are fine again :sadbanana:
If anyone has any ideas, I'm all ears.
I couldn't imagine losing manual brake pressure in that situation, talk about scary.
LowGearTurbo
New member
In another car (Ford Festiva) my brake line rusted out, loosing the fluid, so I had minimal braking, but still managed to limp along. Spliced in a new section of tube with compression fittings to fix it.
I think the Sonic has stainless steel brake lines, so rusting out should not be a problem.
I think the Sonic has stainless steel brake lines, so rusting out should not be a problem.
When I have had this problem of very stiff pedal (lack of vacuum boost), it has always been at low speeds. Lo and behold, GM has issued a recall for the EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS for 3.4 million trucks and SUVs. The "fix" is apparently a software change that makes the electric vacuum pump kick in sooner? I'm guessing GM uses the same sort of vacuum boost system across the entire model line, and it's only a matter of time before it trickles down to our Sonics; heavy trucks would be the priority.
