i think so but i'd like opinions. I put this in the bs section as it's on my wifes 2000 mirage. So we took vacation this week to burn it before the year end. We decided to go to the yeungling brewery which was pretty cool btw. She drove there and i drove back. When i got in the car on the way home and headed down the steep road out i noticed when i was stopped if i pushed the brake pedal harder i could bottom it out, although the brake force and grabbiness was very good. She's never complained about the brakes and i've never noticed any issues in the past.

So basically if it's not losing fluid and it's bled properly, if i can bottom out the pedal i've gotten and internal BMC leak? just making sure before i call over the place tomorrow morning to get one before we head to ellis island

this kinda **** never fails

 

Both my 05 Tribute and 08 Mazda3 do this, and I assume it is by design since it has been like that since I got both of them brand new.

 

An internal leak usually has a slow pedal drop when pressing on the brakes. Does the pedal sink down gradually or does it just go straight to the floor?

 

it will only go to the floor if you push harder, it won't slowly sink

 

Yup that's what both of mine do. The brakes are still fully engaged when this happens.

 

When have you last replaced the brake fluid? It absorbs water like a sponge, and some vehicles are worse about it than others. Moisture actually gets in through the microscopic pores in the rubber lines and seals.
Why Change Brake Fluid

I don't think it's as sexy an option as some failed part, but it's cheap and your car is coming up on 9 yrs old. I was amazed at the change in my rx7's pedal feel in just normal driving. It did the same thing, and had no air when I cracked the bleeders. But there was evidence of moisture presence in the calipers when I dissasembled them. It had never been apart, so at first I was puzzled to see moisture corrosion in a "sealed system." After I started autocrossing, I came upon the fact that it is recommended to be changed annually for performance driving or racing. Go figure.

Maybe it'll help. You've got nothing to lose if not.

 

flushed fluid today made no difference

 

A LOT of modern cars do this. Its one of those things you dont notice for years and then one day you do and it drives you nuts. I work as a dealer tech and this **** makes diagnosing brake problems a ******* nightmare as half the time it is normal. At any rate I wouldnt get too worried.

 

maybe it is normal, anyway we're dropping it off at a friends shop tomorrow to get a second opinion, i don't really like dicking around with her car like i would my own

 

After a little reading, this could be a collapsible brake pedal. Which was designed to eliminate foot/ankle injuries in collisions. I know on both my Tribute and 3 If I literally stand on the brakes at a light the pedal will feel like it disengages, while the brakes are fully engaged.

Or maybe your brakes are fucked.

 

well 3 guys in the shop looked at it, tell me nothing is wrong, they say the brakes are fine and they can't get the pedal to bottom out. i can still do it no problem, i'm really not pushing all that hard. Strangely so when i do this and actually look at the bottom of the pedal it's not hitting the floor but there is still a defninitive point where it stops. should i forget it or what?