# 1997 Eclipse Brake Problems

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-eclipse-brake-problems/40337>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** brakes, eclipse, mitsubishi\
**Created:** [December 4, 2009, 9:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-eclipse-brake-problems/40337 "2009-12-04T09:47:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jaw891](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@jaw891](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jaw891)\
**Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 9:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-eclipse-brake-problems/40337/1 "2009-12-04T09:47:19Z")

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```
 To get to the point, my car needed all new rotors and pads, and 2 calipers. Well, that's what I thought until I replaced everything and still didn't end up with a fully functioning brake system. Now the problem is that the pedal goes down quite a bit before the brakes engage and they don't seem to slow the car down quickly. But if I push as hard as i can the wheels lock. To add more to this, when I pump the brake pedal a few times the pressure seems to build up and the breaks work fine. When I come to a stop the pressure releases and I'm left with faulty brakes again.

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My guess is that the master cylinder is broken but I thought if that were the case then I wouldn’t have any brakes at all. I installed all the parts and bled out all the break lines properly and all the parts I installed seem to function fine once I pump the pedal. Also, the abs light is on in the car as it was when I bought it, but I wasn’t sure why because I tested the brakes and I could tell the abs was working.

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**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\
**Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 11:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-eclipse-brake-problems/40337/2 "2009-12-04T11:26:44Z")

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The brake hoses, at the wheels, may have deteriorated and aren’t allowing fluid to the brakes; and then, aren’t letting the brakes release. The cure is to replace the brake hoses.

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**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\
**Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 4:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-eclipse-brake-problems/40337/3 "2009-12-04T16:34:02Z")

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_“when I pump the brake pedal a few times the pressure seems to build up”_

Classic symptom of a bad master cylinder.

From now on replace your brake fluid every 3 years to reduce this kind of problem.