Login Register

Brake pedal requires more effort than normal, what to check?

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

Post Reply
robocam
Posts: 51
Joined: 12 April 2009
Year and Model: 850, 1996
Location: Missouri

Brake pedal requires more effort than normal, what to check?

Post by robocam »

The brake pedal on our 1996 850 Turbo seems to require more effort than normal. Are there any common failure points to check? Thanks in advance.

User avatar
rspi
Posts: 7303
Joined: 5 November 2011
Year and Model: 850 T-5R Wagon
Location: Cincinnati OH
Has thanked: 34 times
Been thanked: 72 times
Contact:

Post by rspi »

Master cylinder.
'95 855 T-5R M, Panther - 22/28 mpg, 546,000 miles
'95 955 T-5R Yellow Wagon, Lemonade, 180,000 miles
--------------------
Volvo's of past: '87 740 GLE, '79 262C Bertone, '78 264, 960's, '98 S70 GLT, '95 850 T-5R YellowVolvo Repair Videos

jblackburn
MVS Moderator
Posts: 14043
Joined: 8 June 2008
Year and Model: 1998 S70 T5
Location: Alexandria, VA
Has thanked: 9 times
Been thanked: 19 times

Post by jblackburn »

Try changing the vacuum line to the brake booster.

I've had a bad booster in a car before where you had to slam the brake pedal with both feet to get it to slow down.

The master cylinder will usually still stop your car, but the pedal will lose pressure and sink to the floor holding a stop, or may need to be pumped several times to build pressure.
'98 S70 T5
2016 Chevy Cruze Premier


A learning experience is one of those things that says, "You know that thing you just did? Don't do that."

mercuic: Long live the tractor motor!

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post