The brake pedal on my 96 Stratus has recently changed. Often when the car is cold or just started, the pedal will travel almost to the floor before the brakes come into effect. Once the car has been travelled for some time, the pedal travel resumes in it`s normal position when braking. Then a little while later, the long travel problem may return.

It can be a little scary when you don`t expect it, suddenly you have to push almost to the floor!

I had a problem with noisy drums, the shoes were badly worn on the drivers side. I haven`t replaced them yet, but intend to do so in the next few days. Could worn shoes/drums be the problem, air in the lines or the master cylinder? I`m starting to think it could be the master cylinder because if the worn shoes was the problem, surely the long brake travel would remain all the time and not intermittently?

Thanks.

 

I agree it might be the master cylinder. I would also check along the break lines to make sure there is no bulging or leaking of the lines.
Many things I recommend as a do it yourself, but odd issues with the breaks, maybe a visit to a mechanic is in order here. Too much at stake if ya don't choose the right fix.
It's one thing if ya can't get the car going, it's quite another if ya can't stop it.