Brake Diagnosis
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 449
Likes: 0
From: Boulder CO
Brake Diagnosis
'72 Coupe. Non-power brakes.
Here's the problem. First symptom: Stepping on the brakes, the car starts pulling to the right. A stuck caliper?
A few days later when the weather was warmer, car is not badly pulling to the right, but the brake pedal will slowly go almost all the way to the floor. I can compensate for this by pumping a couple of times. I've checked the master cylinder and the fluid level is fine. Bum master cylinder? Would appreciate any direction to help diagnose and correct the problem.
Here's the problem. First symptom: Stepping on the brakes, the car starts pulling to the right. A stuck caliper?
A few days later when the weather was warmer, car is not badly pulling to the right, but the brake pedal will slowly go almost all the way to the floor. I can compensate for this by pumping a couple of times. I've checked the master cylinder and the fluid level is fine. Bum master cylinder? Would appreciate any direction to help diagnose and correct the problem.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 0
From: Santee CA
Do you feel any wobbling when it's braking, as well?
If so, might be a warped rotor. I've seen that happen.
Could also be worn shocks/bad alignment; braking will cause the nose to dip in the car and pull to the weakest side.
If so, might be a warped rotor. I've seen that happen.
Could also be worn shocks/bad alignment; braking will cause the nose to dip in the car and pull to the weakest side.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 0
From: Hudson Falls, N.Y. 76 Vette Modified L-48
If you're pulling right, you're left brake has air in the line or there's a leak and you have some fluid on the rotor...I had same problem...bleed all the brakes and it stopped..but my front calipers leak and I'm gonna replace those in springtime...I'd bleed the brakes if it was me...
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 460
Likes: 0
From: Point Pleasant NJ
the fading pedal usually means the master cylindar is bad... if you can pump it back up and not have it leak then if i am not mistaken... the secondary seal is bad...
pulling to the side might mean a few things
a. the side it ISN"T pulling to.. has a bad or leaking caliper... but you said the master cylindar is fine with fluid...
b. as sprzout said.. maybe a bad alignment??
it pulls less in the cold because it takes longer for the pads to heat up... less heat means more stopping power.. in the warmer weather it has less stopping power because of the heat you are producing
i would make sure a caliper isn't leaking and go from there... if you bleed the brakes and there is air in one of the lines... bleed all the calipers and make sure the pedal is hard... if the pedal then fades again and you have more air in the lines... replace the caliper...been there done that.. 4 times
hope this helps.. brake problems S&*K~! 
goodluck
pulling to the side might mean a few things
a. the side it ISN"T pulling to.. has a bad or leaking caliper... but you said the master cylindar is fine with fluid...
b. as sprzout said.. maybe a bad alignment??
it pulls less in the cold because it takes longer for the pads to heat up... less heat means more stopping power.. in the warmer weather it has less stopping power because of the heat you are producing
i would make sure a caliper isn't leaking and go from there... if you bleed the brakes and there is air in one of the lines... bleed all the calipers and make sure the pedal is hard... if the pedal then fades again and you have more air in the lines... replace the caliper...been there done that.. 4 times
hope this helps.. brake problems S&*K~! goodluck
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 0
From: Hudson Falls, N.Y. 76 Vette Modified L-48
Here's what happened exactly with me....after I bought the white car, my brakes were poor at best, and they pulled to the right...the master cylinder was full...they continued to get worst as the days progressed until the brake light popped on one day...if I pumped them up they'd be better for a while...I elected to bleed all 4 brakes, resulting in great brakes...BUT, when I decided to put on new pads, the old front pads showed leakage on the back of the pads...so I bought new calipers which will go on in spring...and as I drive the car, lately the brakes are slowly beginning to fade again, which I count as bad calipers...IMO, bleed your brakes and you should be good...worked for me..
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Originally Posted by alanbl
'72 Coupe. Non-power brakes.
Here's the problem. First symptom: Stepping on the brakes, the car starts pulling to the right. A stuck caliper?
A few days later when the weather was warmer, car is not badly pulling to the right, but the brake pedal will slowly go almost all the way to the floor. I can compensate for this by pumping a couple of times. I've checked the master cylinder and the fluid level is fine. Bum master cylinder? Would appreciate any direction to help diagnose and correct the problem.
Here's the problem. First symptom: Stepping on the brakes, the car starts pulling to the right. A stuck caliper?
A few days later when the weather was warmer, car is not badly pulling to the right, but the brake pedal will slowly go almost all the way to the floor. I can compensate for this by pumping a couple of times. I've checked the master cylinder and the fluid level is fine. Bum master cylinder? Would appreciate any direction to help diagnose and correct the problem.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,175
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From: Connecticut, USA
Originally Posted by Tom454
You need leeches.
That's all, just leeches.
That's all, just leeches.
Where do I get these leeches? are there such things as "sons of leeches"?Gary
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
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From: Austin Texas
Originally Posted by gtr1999
Now that's the type of answer I was looking for! Where do I get these leeches? are there such things as "sons of leeches"?
Gary
Where do I get these leeches? are there such things as "sons of leeches"?Gary