sudden brake malfunction
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 20,709
Likes: 25
From: Sorrento Italy
sudden brake malfunction
...just a couple of hours ago i went over a hole on the road and i felt like a 'hit' in the front left wheel, not too hard but enough to be felt clearly...brake red light went on and after a few seconds i felt the brake pedal loose...i had some brake power only when fully pressing the pedal until the end. i've checked, there is no oil leaking on floor nor on the front wheels and all the front brake sistem 'seems' to be ok to me. last detail: the brake pedal, when kept pressed transmit some vibrations to the foot.
what kind of damage do i have there?
i'd appreciate your ideas, thanks/Giu
what kind of damage do i have there?
i'd appreciate your ideas, thanks/Giu
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 20,709
Likes: 25
From: Sorrento Italy
nop, i didnt check oil reservoir but it must be there, there was no leaking whatsoever...
i missed to see this hole, it's the con of having a high hood (and not beeing myself too high either...
)
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
I used to have a really bad leak, where I would fill the reservoir and drive and twenty minutes later the brake light would be on and I would have no fluid in the rear of the master. I never found any leaking fluid or puddles...it was just gone. I have no idea why and cannot explain it...but a good step would be to check the fluid level in the master.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 596
Likes: 1
It sounds like you may have knocked the proportioning valve to one side. This would send the brake light on. You'd still have rears working.
Pump the pedal and look for leaks, equal pressure front and rear will reset the valve.
Valve is mounted to frame below master cylinder.
I gotta go get subs for the gang- I'll be back to check on this- I'm bleeding out my system today so I'll be in the "BRAKE" mode.
Pump the pedal and look for leaks, equal pressure front and rear will reset the valve.
Valve is mounted to frame below master cylinder.
I gotta go get subs for the gang- I'll be back to check on this- I'm bleeding out my system today so I'll be in the "BRAKE" mode.
Last edited by Restorod '79; Mar 17, 2007 at 02:44 PM.
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Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 20,709
Likes: 25
From: Sorrento Italy
i've found the problem, brake liquid level was well under the line in the reservoir, i've filled up and pump on the pedal, there was nearly no pressure in the line and liquid went out from the rear left wheel (it could then be a braided hose un-screwed?)...i was looking at the front left because it was there where i got the hit...
now, the inside of the hoosier (sport car dot-ply) tire got all wet with this stuff, do you think it could have damaged it?
now, the inside of the hoosier (sport car dot-ply) tire got all wet with this stuff, do you think it could have damaged it?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,817
Likes: 21
From: Somerset, NJ
i've found the problem, brake liquid level was well under the line in the reservoir, i've filled up and pump on the pedal, there was nearly no pressure in the line and liquid went out from the rear left wheel (it could then be a braided hose un-screwed?)...i was looking at the front left because it was there where i got the hit...
now, the inside of the hoosier (sport car dot-ply) tire got all wet with this stuff, do you think it could have damaged it?
now, the inside of the hoosier (sport car dot-ply) tire got all wet with this stuff, do you think it could have damaged it?
Brake fluid won't damage your tire. Just wipe off the excess and clean the tire. Years ago believe it or not some people use to use brake fluid to put a shine on the outside of their tires. Not a good idea today. Some say it caused the tires to crack over time.
Last edited by ffas23; Mar 18, 2007 at 08:32 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Glad you found the proper corner. I agree that pulling all four wheels and inspecting all four corners is a good idea. Find the leak, and replace or fix that problem. Then, inspect the other three corners and verify their integrity.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 20,709
Likes: 25
From: Sorrento Italy
this is what i'll do tomorrow...i've found the leak but i'll check the four corners anyway.
the car has a pretty firm set up on tarmac but the hit (on the hole) wasn't that hard anyway, can't understand how come could i have broken (or damaged) a brake line when the whole sistem is new, upgraded, well tested and correctly tightened...
the car has a pretty firm set up on tarmac but the hit (on the hole) wasn't that hard anyway, can't understand how come could i have broken (or damaged) a brake line when the whole sistem is new, upgraded, well tested and correctly tightened...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,817
Likes: 21
From: Somerset, NJ
this is what i'll do tomorrow...i've found the leak but i'll check the four corners anyway.
the car has a pretty firm set up on tarmac but the hit (on the hole) wasn't that hard anyway, can't understand how come could i have broken (or damaged) a brake line when the whole sistem is new, upgraded, well tested and correctly tightened...
the car has a pretty firm set up on tarmac but the hit (on the hole) wasn't that hard anyway, can't understand how come could i have broken (or damaged) a brake line when the whole sistem is new, upgraded, well tested and correctly tightened...
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
It's just handy that's all...easily describes the four wheels, calipers, whatever...being that if looked at from above would look like a square.
