[200q20v] Soft brakes ... master cylinder?

[Arun Rao]

I had today what was probably the scariest experience I've ever had in a
car.  At 39, I should know better, but here I was chasing after this
beautiful ur-S4 on my way in to work. Traffic was stopped dead a bit
further down, and I hit the brakes well in time to slow down ... or so I
thought. The car slowed down just fine at first, but then it seemed like
I lost pressure and the car wasn't decelerating any more.  Luckily for
me, there was a shoulder on the left, and I was able to stop the car
after much frantic pumping.

My mechanic thinks it's the master cylinder.  Pedal pressure has been
inconsistent for a couple of months now, but I didn't realize how bad
things were.  Bomb is about a year and a half old (I think I'm getting
at least 15-20 pumps before the light comes on) and front pads are brand
new. I have the non-UFO G-60's. Hydraulic pump is less than a year old:
no leaks of any kind in the engine compartment. The only suspicious
thing is that the brake fluid level was well over the "MAX" mark.

Any ideas, folks?  Thanks!

-Arun

--
Arun Rao
Pixar Animation Studios
Pt. Richmond, CA 94804
(510) 620-3526