I have a 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass, which has always worked well, until recently. My brakes are starting to go, I have to push harder on them now to stop. Do I need to replace the whole braking system or just the pads?I called a local repair shop which told me between 500 and 1600, but a local Midas said between 150 and 225.But brake pads cost like 20-30, which if possible, would be a better solution, not because of the price, but because to get to the Midas or other repair shop, I would have to drive on 3 highways, and with the brakes going, I would prefer not to do that.
Have you checked the brake fluid?Is it low or leaking?If you are leaking fluid you need more than pads.Is the car making any sounds like scrubbing or grinding?If so you could need rotors and or caliphers on the front,not just pads.If any of these answers are yes,you need serious work.Call around check wrecker prices to tow you to shop.If you can't afford all this,why the heck did you wait so long?What could have been a simple pad change is now a major overhaul!
pushing harder to stop sounds like a bad brake vacuum booster. if your mechanically inclined ill be glad to sugjest a few checks for this. 1st is the engine running oddly itself? look around the top of the engine for a hose off or a fitting making a lot of noice around the top while idling. if you find its a hose off find the fiting that should be right there at the end and slip it back on if theres no hose the odds are a rubber vacuum plug came off and you need to go purchase a set of vacuum hose plugs various sizes and replug it. you can make a temp plug using a used piece of hose that fits the fitting end and force a srew into the other end of the used hose to create a seal.
depends on what u mean by harder i dont think u mean the pedal is harder to push but but rather the pedal is actually sponge ee and or u have to push it down further close er to the floor check the brake fluid reservoirs if either one is low fill it up to proper level pay attention to which one is low there is a reservoir for the front and the back under the same lid most shops want to just replace shoes drums and the fluid cylinders that make the shoes expand out to drum surface my guess is all u need those cylinders rebuilt unless u ve been hearing grinding noises from back wheels when aplied brakes for awhile if the small reservoir is low then its the front disc brakes which are ur primary ones they apply first find Little dirt or surface with not a lot of traction u can get all 4 tires on at the same and roll across it at a slow speed and lock the brakes up skid about 2 or 3 feet put car in park get out and look at tracks see witch brakes are or are not working brakes really are a simple just take one side apart at a time sou can look at the other to put back together they had heavy duty parts in 94 olds mobiles get back on when can tell us more any brake noise squeak or a grinding noise front or rear fluid low or not which reservoir which tires skid which dont
complicated matter. seek using google and yahoo. this may help!
