Problem with brakes. Help needed please.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 793
Likes: 11
From: Grafton MA
Problem with brakes. Help needed please.
Hi,
I'm posting this question for my brother who is buying a 1980 vette. The car has a problem in that after driving it for 15 minutes or so the front wheels start to smoke and the car slows down to a stop and locks up. The seller agreed to fix the problem...which he said is with the brake calibers. However after replacing the brake calibers my brother rant into the same problem when he went to pick up the car and got stuck on his way home and had to have it towed back to the seller. This time the seller said he thought the brake line was too close to the exhaust system so he put a heat shield in between. Unfortunately after driving it around for 15 minutes before trying to take it home again the car died again. This makes three or 4 times the seller has failed in trying to fix the problem. Neither me nor my brother are that great when it comes to fixing cars so i thought i'd post this question here to see if anyone can help. Any thoughts about what the problem could be and how to fix it?
Thanks,
Paul
I'm posting this question for my brother who is buying a 1980 vette. The car has a problem in that after driving it for 15 minutes or so the front wheels start to smoke and the car slows down to a stop and locks up. The seller agreed to fix the problem...which he said is with the brake calibers. However after replacing the brake calibers my brother rant into the same problem when he went to pick up the car and got stuck on his way home and had to have it towed back to the seller. This time the seller said he thought the brake line was too close to the exhaust system so he put a heat shield in between. Unfortunately after driving it around for 15 minutes before trying to take it home again the car died again. This makes three or 4 times the seller has failed in trying to fix the problem. Neither me nor my brother are that great when it comes to fixing cars so i thought i'd post this question here to see if anyone can help. Any thoughts about what the problem could be and how to fix it?
Thanks,
Paul
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
First I would check the rubber hoses at the calipers but since both do it it could be the master cylinder.
When the brakes are locked up loosen the fitting on the front brake line on the master cylinder--if this releases the calipers the problem is the master cylinder.If this doesnt release the calipers its probably the rubber brake hoses.
If you do determine it is the master cylinder there is one more thing to check---again when the calipers are locked loosen the 2 bolts holding the master cyl. to the booster -if this releases them then something is keeping cyl. piston from returning.
When the brakes are locked up loosen the fitting on the front brake line on the master cylinder--if this releases the calipers the problem is the master cylinder.If this doesnt release the calipers its probably the rubber brake hoses.
If you do determine it is the master cylinder there is one more thing to check---again when the calipers are locked loosen the 2 bolts holding the master cyl. to the booster -if this releases them then something is keeping cyl. piston from returning.
Last edited by ...Roger...; Nov 7, 2006 at 07:58 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
i bet the rubber brake hoses are acting like a one way valve and they need to be replaced.....it works like this...the hoses get swollen and it takes a lot of pressure to push fluid past them....you get fluid past them by pressing onthe brake pedal.....the problem is when you let off the brake pedal...the fluid does not come back and the brakes stay energized and then they get hot and expand and things get even tighter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
Couple of things it could be:
1). Master Cylinder push rod is to long stopping fluid from going back to M/C resovoir as it heats up and expands. To check this, when the brakes start to drag, loosen the 2 nuts holding the M/C to the booster and see it it releives the pressure.
2). Bad hoses at calipers. If they are delaminated or swollen on the inside, they will restrict fluid flow back to the M/C on brake release.
I would bet on #1.
1). Master Cylinder push rod is to long stopping fluid from going back to M/C resovoir as it heats up and expands. To check this, when the brakes start to drag, loosen the 2 nuts holding the M/C to the booster and see it it releives the pressure.
2). Bad hoses at calipers. If they are delaminated or swollen on the inside, they will restrict fluid flow back to the M/C on brake release.
I would bet on #1.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by Duke94
Couple of things it could be:
1). Master Cylinder push rod is to long stopping fluid from going back to M/C resovoir as it heats up and expands. To check this, when the brakes start to drag, loosen the 2 nuts holding the M/C to the booster and see it it releives the pressure.
I would bet on #1.
1). Master Cylinder push rod is to long stopping fluid from going back to M/C resovoir as it heats up and expands. To check this, when the brakes start to drag, loosen the 2 nuts holding the M/C to the booster and see it it releives the pressure.
I would bet on #1.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
M/c doesn't have to get hot at all. The brake rod may be too long and preventing the piston and seals in the M/c to still hold pressure when you think the pedal is released. Test as described above from DWncchs and Duke94, since both lock up.
It is still possible that the flex lines are trashed. Replace anyway, if not new. Cheap insurance.
It is still possible that the flex lines are trashed. Replace anyway, if not new. Cheap insurance.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by noonie
M/c doesn't have to get hot at all. The brake rod may be too long and preventing the piston and seals in the M/c to still hold pressure when you think the pedal is released. Test as described above from DWncchs and Duke94, since both lock up.
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Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Hershey PA.
Originally Posted by pwsusi
Hi,
I'm posting this question for my brother who is buying a 1980 vette. The car has a problem in that after driving it for 15 minutes or so the front wheels start to smoke and the car slows down to a stop and locks up. The seller agreed to fix the problem...which he said is with the brake calibers. However after replacing the brake calibers my brother rant into the same problem when he went to pick up the car and got stuck on his way home and had to have it towed back to the seller. This time the seller said he thought the brake line was too close to the exhaust system so he put a heat shield in between. Unfortunately after driving it around for 15 minutes before trying to take it home again the car died again. This makes three or 4 times the seller has failed in trying to fix the problem. Neither me nor my brother are that great when it comes to fixing cars so i thought i'd post this question here to see if anyone can help. Any thoughts about what the problem could be and how to fix it?
Thanks,
Paul
I'm posting this question for my brother who is buying a 1980 vette. The car has a problem in that after driving it for 15 minutes or so the front wheels start to smoke and the car slows down to a stop and locks up. The seller agreed to fix the problem...which he said is with the brake calibers. However after replacing the brake calibers my brother rant into the same problem when he went to pick up the car and got stuck on his way home and had to have it towed back to the seller. This time the seller said he thought the brake line was too close to the exhaust system so he put a heat shield in between. Unfortunately after driving it around for 15 minutes before trying to take it home again the car died again. This makes three or 4 times the seller has failed in trying to fix the problem. Neither me nor my brother are that great when it comes to fixing cars so i thought i'd post this question here to see if anyone can help. Any thoughts about what the problem could be and how to fix it?
Thanks,
Paul
