Hard brake pedal before car started

[76200282735]

Hi,

I have a 1988 325ic. The brake pedal is hard and the brakes do not work well before the car is started. The brakes work fine after the car is started, so I am thinking it might be related to a vacuum leak to the brake booster. Is there an obvious component that is bad, or a test I can do to isolate the problem?

Thanks,
Steve

[jlevie]

That behavior indicates a loss of vacuum in the brake booster while the car is parked. The cause could be a bad hose, bad check valve, or bad booster. Start with the hoses and check valve.Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL
BMWCCA 335857
http://www.bmwcca.org

[MACTAR!]

if the car isn't started then the pedal should be hard, and the brakes shouldn't work well.