2-3" of brake travel then get stopping powerrr help

[six2midnight]

I thought I would post this question real quick. I have 2 e30s. On my early model the brakes are great, as soon as I touch the pedal im already starting to feel the brakes grap.

on my 91 318is, I get about 2-3" of brake travel and then the brakes grab hard.

To take out some of your possibilities.

1. no leaks on either system
2. BRAND NEW pads and rotors on both e30s
3. both freshly bled with racing fluid.

You think the 2-3" of travel could be a bad master cyl? I think a bad booster would give me hard brakes.

let me know what you think.
thanks,

[tomstin]

I would bet on the master cylinder if as you say everything else looks good. Does the pedal pump up? I had booster go bad and the pedal got real hard, both feet on the pedal and pulling up on the steering wheel for leverage merely slowed the car down. Very scary!

[six2midnight]

yeah, once the pedal goes down 2-3 I will get bite on the pads. but if I go like 1-2" and pump it, it will firm up sooner.


which made me think it was the booster. maybe its both