C1 Brake Problems
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 873
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
C1 Brake Problems
It’s been a few months since I have taken a day off from work so the wife convinced me to spend some “Quality Time” last Sunday with the babies. Took the ’58 out for about 150-mile cruise, on the way home the brakes started acting up. What happening is if I’m in traffic using the brakes on a regular bases they work fine – solid peddle with a bout 1 or so travel. If I drive a few minutes without using the brakes the first time I step on the peddle they will go to the floor – I let the peddle come backup and step on it once more and the brakes are back to normal. I do not have to pump the brakes, just reapply the brakes gives me a solid peddle again. I have check the brake reservoir and it is filled to the top and looks clean and I have not added fluid since the off body. I have put over 1000 miles on the car since body off without any brake problems. During the off body all wheel cylinders were replace, all brake lines, brake shoes, drums turned, and the original matching number master cylinder (equates to being really old one) was flushed and reinstalled. Does this sound like a master cylinder problem? If so, should I buy new single master cylinder ($99.95), upgrade to a dual master cylinder ($439.00), a rebuild kit ($16.75), or front disc w/dual master cylinder ($995.00)? :rolleyes:
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
Re: C1 Brake Problems (58Vette65)
It's the master cylinder. Get the rebuild kit, but inspect the bore VERY carefully - if there are any pits or scratches in the bore, send it out to be sleeved. White Post Restorations (www.whitepost.com) will brass-sleeve it and do the complete rebuild also with a lifetime guarantee for about $150, or Apple Hydraulics (www.applehydraulics.com) will do just the sleeve for about $60, then you do the rebuild. :thumbs:
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 416
Likes: 0
From: Kearney Nebraska
Re: C1 Brake Problems (JohnZ)
Hey John Z, are they able to sleeve the wheel cylinders too. Just wondering if a person wished to keep the wheel cylinders original if that was possible?
Greg
1960 fi vette :smash: :seeya
Greg
1960 fi vette :smash: :seeya
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
Re: C1 Brake Problems (1960fivette)
Yes, they can - White Post has done exceptional work for me for many years, including irreplaceable old Ferrari aluminum master, wheel, and clutch cylinders; they are simply the best in the business. :thumbs:
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 6,158
Likes: 395
From: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada NS
Re: C1 Brake Problems (JohnZ)
Maybe it's a good time to replace that single line master cylinder with a dual line mc.
I got mine from MasterPower Brakes. ECI Brakes also sell 'em as does Corvette Central (whom just buys from MPB or ECI and resells).
I got mine from MasterPower Brakes. ECI Brakes also sell 'em as does Corvette Central (whom just buys from MPB or ECI and resells).
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 873
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
Re: C1 Brake Problems (58Vette65)
Yea...think I will do the rebuild route. Lets See...new tools I will need to complete the task. Looks like I will need a complete set of deep well swivel sockets, the mounting bolts look like they may be a little difficult to get to. Hmmmm may get air in the system so I will need one of those neat vacuum pumps that Sears sells – the one in the neat carrying case. Doing a job myself on the Vette gets the wife to open her checkbook and purchase neat new toys, I mean required tools. :jester :D
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 3,025
Likes: 12
From: Pleasant Grove AL
Re: C1 Brake Problems (58Vette65)
I have seen some inexpensive power bleeders advertised that don't cost much more than the vacuum pumps and probably work a whole lot better. A lot of guys, myself included, haven't been able to get the vacuum pumps to work well for bleeding. They pull air around the bleeder threads. One of the pressure bleeders will probably be my next brake toy, er tool.
[Modified by 62fuelie, 9:54 PM 8/16/2003]
[Modified by 62fuelie, 9:54 PM 8/16/2003]
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
Re: C1 Brake Problems (62fuelie)
Here's what you want - works like gangbusters! Takes all the grief out of brake bleeding, especially on disc C2's and C3's.
http://www.motiveproducts.com/
:cheers:
http://www.motiveproducts.com/
:cheers:
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Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
Re: C1 Brake Problems (62fuelie)
They have a wide variety of adapters to fit just about anything - I got a flat rectangular adapter with mine that works with most flat-top dual-reservoir master cylinders. :thumbs: