So my car has been really hating me recently... but now this is a whole new issue with my brakes not disengaging.

I put my car back together after having an unrelated issue with a stuck valve error code (car was on jack stands for awhile) and I took it out for a quick drive - everything was normal.

Went out again and noticed that the pedal was a bit more stiff and each time I applied brakes they seemed to be dragging the car to the point where I could barely get up the driveway

I have now found out tat when I disconnect thvacuum hose the brakes work!! ...only temporarily until I have driven the car about 1 min and pressure gets slowly applied and slows me down, and then I have to disconnect again to relieve the pressure. Why is this happening? Too much brake fluid?

 

Does your emergency brake work properly?
Any chance a brake hardline was crushed by the jackstands?

 

Yes the hand brake does work and I don't believe any of the lines were crushed. In doing a bit of research it seems the brake vacuum booster isn't relieving the pressure causing the brakes to constantly build pressure as you drive.

Not quite sure how to fix this aside from doing a fluid change and see what happens.... But any suggestions would be appreciated!

 

Sounds like a problem with the hydraulics. Disconnecting the vacuum line only temporarily masks the problem. Id say check the caliper slide pins to start then suspect that the caliper pistons are not retracting like they should. You may be in for new calipers.

 

I still don't quite understand how the brakes can work perfectly fine when I disconnect the hose - it literally is as if it's self timed to slowly build pressure and won't release until I remove the vacuum hose again. Otherwise they do retract fully and work great within the first 20-30 seconds of driving...

 

A stuck valve error code...

Say more about this. What did you do to repair this?

If the brakes were fine before the stuck valve repair then it stands to reason that something you touched had an unintended side effect.

Go back and check everything you touched with focus on anything vacuum or hydraulic related

 

Issue fixed!!

I had no idea this would cause this issue but I had the mazdaspeed Strut bar too tightly against the master cylinder... Lol. How embarrassing.

 

, glad it was something simple.

 

Wow!
Nice fix!

 

Nice. How did you fix it?

 

The brake cylinder brace on the Mazdaspeed strut bar basically has a screw in which pressure is applied to add stability. I had no idea how much to tighten the brace in the first place and I also had no idea That if you over tighten the brace it would do that to our brakes.

So for anyone who has one - minimal pressure is all that's needed!