C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

1968 brake problem

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 27, 2009 | 01:09 PM
  #1  
Vette-L79's Avatar
Vette-L79
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 24
Likes: 3
From: Ulster PA
Default 1968 brake problem

I am looking for help on solving a problem with the bleeding the brakes on my 1968. I am using a Motive power bleeder, calipers have been rebuilt with SS liner's and VPB piston with "O" rings, replaced the master cylinder, however with 10lbs. pressure the fluid just barely comes out of the bleeders. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Reply
Old Jun 27, 2009 | 02:45 PM
  #2  
...Roger...'s Avatar
...Roger...
Race Director
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Default

Barely out of both front and rear calipers ? If so take the bleeder back off and away from the car and put it over a bucket and make sure its not the bleeder itself.
Reply
Old Jun 27, 2009 | 03:15 PM
  #3  
Vette-L79's Avatar
Vette-L79
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 24
Likes: 3
From: Ulster PA
Default

It is this way on all of the bleeder's. All of the bleeder's were cleaned last summer when I installed the new piston's. I also forgot to mention that the car has manual brakes.
Reply
Old Jun 27, 2009 | 03:38 PM
  #4  
AzMotorhead's Avatar
AzMotorhead
Limping across the line
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,299
Likes: 109
From: Peoria Az
Default

Pump that pressure pot up to about 15 or more.
DO a search here on the pressure bleeders, you'll see you need to clamp the reservoir top plate down
Reply
Old Jun 27, 2009 | 04:17 PM
  #5  
Vette-L79's Avatar
Vette-L79
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 24
Likes: 3
From: Ulster PA
Default

Thanks for the replies. I have the top plate clamped down now. I will try 15psi and post back results.
Reply
Old Jun 27, 2009 | 07:00 PM
  #6  
Vette-L79's Avatar
Vette-L79
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 24
Likes: 3
From: Ulster PA
Default

I just tried the 15psi with the same results as 10psi. Should I go to 20psi or higher?
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2009 | 12:12 AM
  #7  
AzMotorhead's Avatar
AzMotorhead
Limping across the line
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,299
Likes: 109
From: Peoria Az
Default

DId you pressure bleed the master cylinder?
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2009 | 12:58 AM
  #8  
Clams Canino's Avatar
Clams Canino
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC
Default

Work backwards from caliper to master.
Remove the bleeder - better flow mow?
Could be the proportioning valve - rare but possible.
-W
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 28, 2009 | 08:08 AM
  #9  
Vette-L79's Avatar
Vette-L79
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 24
Likes: 3
From: Ulster PA
Default

No I didn't pressure bleed, however I bench bled the master cylinder.
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2009 | 08:12 AM
  #10  
Vette-L79's Avatar
Vette-L79
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 24
Likes: 3
From: Ulster PA
Default

Originally Posted by Clams Canino
Work backwards from caliper to master.
Remove the bleeder - better flow mow?
Could be the proportioning valve - rare but possible.
-W
Is there anyway to check the proportioning valve? I suspect this is where the problem is. I will try removing the bleeder's one at a time.
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2009 | 12:06 PM
  #11  
Clams Canino's Avatar
Clams Canino
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC
Default

I'm not sure of the proper method to test it. But I'd think that if you took one line off the output and steped on the break it outta pee fluid easily.

-W (68 roadster)
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2009 | 12:14 PM
  #12  
'75's Avatar
'75
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,422
Likes: 591
From: McHenry Illinois
Default

How old are your flexible hoses to the calipers? Those can look ok but be swelled almost closed on the inside. You could try removing the hose from one of the hard lines and see what flow you get.
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2009 | 12:16 PM
  #13  
Mike Ward's Avatar
Mike Ward
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Default

'68s do not have a proportioning valve, it's a distribution manifold with an integral electrical switch to warn of pressure loss in either of the two circuits. Big difference!
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2009 | 12:30 PM
  #14  
Vette-L79's Avatar
Vette-L79
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 24
Likes: 3
From: Ulster PA
Default

Originally Posted by Aktbird
How old are your flexible hoses to the calipers? Those can look ok but be swelled almost closed on the inside. You could try removing the hose from one of the hard lines and see what flow you get.
I have no idea how old they are. I will try your suggestion on the front. I am having the same issue on all four wheel,s.
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2009 | 12:32 PM
  #15  
...Roger...'s Avatar
...Roger...
Race Director
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Default

If your using silicone fluid just crack one of the lines at the master cylinder to see if its coming through at that point then move to the next fitting towards the wheels.
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2009 | 12:41 PM
  #16  
Vette-L79's Avatar
Vette-L79
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 24
Likes: 3
From: Ulster PA
Default

Originally Posted by Mike Ward
'68s do not have a proportioning valve, it's a distribution manifold with an integral electrical switch to warn of pressure loss in either of the two circuits. Big difference!
I was reading about this in a Chilton's manual and it states that a brake warning light on the instrument panel should come on. Is this the same light as the emergency brake light, because that is the only brake light that I have?
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2009 | 12:59 PM
  #17  
Clams Canino's Avatar
Clams Canino
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC
Default

Hi Mike!
I just went and checked my car and there's no way to be sure exactly "what" it is by looking at it.
It's there, and it has a wire attached to it for the light. Ecklers however, lists it as a "Proportioning Valve" at part number 48514. A different one is listed for 1969 (48515) and then 3 more for 70-73 , 74-77, and 78-82. They also have a chrome "replacement" for 74-82 at ony $79.

Are you sure it's not a true proportioning valve? Is the '69 one "real"? If not when did they get "real"? And lastly if you had a '68 would upgrading this critter to a real proportioning valve make a notable difference in brake performance. Do they all have the light switch built in?

-W
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To 1968 brake problem

Old Jun 28, 2009 | 03:22 PM
  #18  
Mike Ward's Avatar
Mike Ward
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Default

Originally Posted by Vette-L79
I was reading about this in a Chilton's manual and it states that a brake warning light on the instrument panel should come on. Is this the same light as the emergency brake light, because that is the only brake light that I have?

Yes, it shares the same light. It's easy enough to know if the light works, but difficult to know if the switch inside the valve works or not. I have heard of cases where the valve has been activated but that the switch is not working.

This may be contributing to your bleeding problems but check out all the normal culprits first.
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2009 | 03:26 PM
  #19  
Mike Ward's Avatar
Mike Ward
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Default

Originally Posted by Clams Canino;

Are you sure it's not a true proportioning valve? Is the '69 one "real"? If not when did they get "real"? And lastly if you had a '68 would upgrading this critter to a real proportioning valve make a notable difference in brake performance. Do they all have the light switch built in?

-W
Only Corvettes with J56 brakes came with a proportioning valve prior to (I think) '78. Adding one to your car would not be an upgrade- much the opposite. The only proportioning action they perform is to reduce the pressure to the rear brakes.
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2009 | 03:31 PM
  #20  
Clams Canino's Avatar
Clams Canino
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC
Default

Yes... I read the break sticky thread in the C3 tech forum and now feel I have a good education on what that foolish thingie does and does not do.
My LR caliper is currenty bad - so I can assure you that mine works, and the light comes on, and then the light goes back off... so I know that the pistons are at least trying to re-center.

I'll note that by the time you push the pedal down far enough for the idiot light to come on - you should already have gotten clues that something is wrong with the brakes.
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:41 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE