Soft brakes, recommendations?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 2,714
Likes: 2,162
From: Minnesota
There are many, many different threads about brakes on here. Looking up “C3 corvette forum brakes” on the google machine should give you many results about people’s different experiences and methods of bleeding them.
The rear brake reservoir looks good, but the front could definitely use a flush with new fluid.
The rear brake reservoir looks good, but the front could definitely use a flush with new fluid.
Le Mans Master
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From: Omaha NE
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Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Suppositly has new pads? It's your car, isn't it?
new to you? Get down and look! Back to, It's your car!
The fluid in the rear chamber looks very clear.brand new Dot 3 or 4 OR, Dot5??? Check. What does it smell like? Dot 3 and 4 smell like brake fluid. Dot 5 doesn't smell at all.
Don't mix them! Do Flush those brakes! Then flush them again in the front! Then bleed with a reverse bleeder until you get a firm, Hard pedal!
It's your car! How did it get this bad?
new to you? Get down and look! Back to, It's your car!
The fluid in the rear chamber looks very clear.brand new Dot 3 or 4 OR, Dot5??? Check. What does it smell like? Dot 3 and 4 smell like brake fluid. Dot 5 doesn't smell at all.
Don't mix them! Do Flush those brakes! Then flush them again in the front! Then bleed with a reverse bleeder until you get a firm, Hard pedal!
It's your car! How did it get this bad?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,810
From: Cool Northern Michigan
schwall,
You sure that's your master? Looks like an old coffee maker.
I would repair this the cheap & fast way and see what happens. No Motive Pressure Tank, no reverse bleeder.
Get yourself a Mity-Vac kit, turkey baster and a big bottle of DOT3. You are only doing two bleeder screws (front) at this time
Start soaking the front caliper bleeders with PB Blaster.
Next:
Start with the rear Rez. Remove almost all fluid but, Do Not let the port in the bottom become exposed to air.
Refill. Done!
Do the same with the front Rez. Don't let it run dry.
Refill, done!
Begin at the right front caliper. Just barely crack open the bleeder.
Apply vacuum with necessary fittings from your Mity-Vac kit.
Fluid should begin to clear up w/o bubbles in the clear hose.
Refill master. Do the other caliper.
Somewhere moisture is entering the master. With any luck it's not a brake-line, caliper, fitting, or hoses,
but rather the masters lid gasket itself.
You sure that's your master? Looks like an old coffee maker.
I would repair this the cheap & fast way and see what happens. No Motive Pressure Tank, no reverse bleeder.
Get yourself a Mity-Vac kit, turkey baster and a big bottle of DOT3. You are only doing two bleeder screws (front) at this time
Start soaking the front caliper bleeders with PB Blaster.
Next:
Start with the rear Rez. Remove almost all fluid but, Do Not let the port in the bottom become exposed to air.
Refill. Done!
Do the same with the front Rez. Don't let it run dry.
Refill, done!
Begin at the right front caliper. Just barely crack open the bleeder.
Apply vacuum with necessary fittings from your Mity-Vac kit.
Fluid should begin to clear up w/o bubbles in the clear hose.
Refill master. Do the other caliper.
Somewhere moisture is entering the master. With any luck it's not a brake-line, caliper, fitting, or hoses,
but rather the masters lid gasket itself.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 301
Likes: 87
[QUOTE=HeadsU.P.;1608650029]schwall,
You sure that's your master? Looks like an old coffee maker.
I would repair this the cheap & fast way and see what happens. No Motive Pressure Tank, no reverse bleeder.
Get yourself a Mity-Vac kit, turkey baster and a big bottle of DOT3. You are only doing two bleeder screws (front) at this time
Start soaking the front caliper bleeders with PB Blaster.
Next:
Start with the rear Rez. Remove almost all fluid but, Do Not let the port in the bottom become exposed to air.
Refill. Done!
Do the same with the front Rez. Don't let it run dry.
Refill, done!
Begin at the right front caliper. Just barely crack open the bleeder.
Apply vacuum with necessary fittings from your Mity-Vac kit.
Fluid should begin to clear up w/o bubbles in the clear hose.
Refill master. Do the other caliper.
Somewhere moisture is entering the master. With any luck it's not a brake-line, caliper, fitting, or hoses,
but rather the masters lid gasket itself.[/QUOTE owner can drain the MC dry as long as he doesn’t step on the brake pedal .
You sure that's your master? Looks like an old coffee maker.
I would repair this the cheap & fast way and see what happens. No Motive Pressure Tank, no reverse bleeder.
Get yourself a Mity-Vac kit, turkey baster and a big bottle of DOT3. You are only doing two bleeder screws (front) at this time
Start soaking the front caliper bleeders with PB Blaster.
Next:
Start with the rear Rez. Remove almost all fluid but, Do Not let the port in the bottom become exposed to air.
Refill. Done!
Do the same with the front Rez. Don't let it run dry.
Refill, done!
Begin at the right front caliper. Just barely crack open the bleeder.
Apply vacuum with necessary fittings from your Mity-Vac kit.
Fluid should begin to clear up w/o bubbles in the clear hose.
Refill master. Do the other caliper.
Somewhere moisture is entering the master. With any luck it's not a brake-line, caliper, fitting, or hoses,
but rather the masters lid gasket itself.[/QUOTE owner can drain the MC dry as long as he doesn’t step on the brake pedal .
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,096
Likes: 213
From: The Buckle of the Bible Belt. Joplin Mo
Sounds and looks as though there is air in the line. If someone recently replaced the brakes, odds are they didn't bleed them correctly. I would start with the rear and see if you get air or fluid. If you get straight fluid. check to the master cylinder.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 414
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
In addition to the above advice,
I’d replace the rubber hoses to the calipers. Based on that fluid color it’s likely the entire brake system has been neglected for some time
I’d replace the rubber hoses to the calipers. Based on that fluid color it’s likely the entire brake system has been neglected for some time
1967 Pedal Car Champion
Joined: Mar 2020
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From: US-PNW
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,810
From: Cool Northern Michigan
Cam 33.
I disagree. Never allow a master to run empty. Regardless if the brake pedal is involved.
An air pocket in the master Rez, is just that. Air in the system. And that means pull the master and bench bleed.
I disagree. Never allow a master to run empty. Regardless if the brake pedal is involved.
An air pocket in the master Rez, is just that. Air in the system. And that means pull the master and bench bleed.