siideways

So I just looked at and test-drove a C43 w/ pretty low miles (88K), and although the car was in ok condition, when I drove it I noticed that the brake pedal was pretty mushy and that the brakes didn't really grab until the pedal was pressed down quite a way (about an inch and a half off the floor). Does this sound normal? Current owner only had the car a couple months so he doesn't know if the brakes have ever been replaced/flushed/etc.

LawRens

Very unusual.

At this point in time it could be anything, but the first thing I would suggest (easiest too) is to look at the rotor and brake pads. If that's the problem you will most likely notice a huge lip formed around the edge of the rotor, and the brake pads will be thin or probably worn down to near the metal.

In a less optimistic scenario, it could be that either there is a leak in the brake lines, or the brake master cylinder is failing, or has failed already. There could still be other possible reasons for this issue.

m a x i m u s

+1. check the pads and rotors.

nd4spd13

+2

When i got my C43 the discs were warn and warped, and the pads were quite warn, and unevenly. It sounded a bit like what you described.

But also note that when i got new pads, new rotors, new fluid etc in the 43, compared to the feel of my 36, the first couple impressions I had were that the "new" brakes sucked. It felt like I had to press a bit until they started biting, and honestly the smoothness really threw me off. I thought they were barely grabbing, and really late too, then I realized when I glanced at the speedo just how hard I was actually braking.

It sounds like there's just warn stuff going on with this particular one, but do keep that in mind.

ECTurboGSX

I would not describe the brake feel in a C43 as "good". There is minimal feedback and the early portion of the pedal throw is not linear. Once you're into them though, the pedal pressure is more of a linear relation to the braking force.