Brake Problems - 1979
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
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From: Ontario
Brake Problems - 1979
This is a description of the problem my Brother is having with the brakes on his 1979. Any thoughts as to what the problem is? We have bled the brakes.
I was out for quite a while today and generally the car ran well except when in stop and go traffic, or when backing into the laneway as I first discovered two weeks ago. I know now how to duplicate the problem. This pedal height problem occurs when you are riding the brake, like in traffic. Picture sitting with your foot on the brake and there is lots of resistance, traffic moves forward so you let up on the brake a bit but not take your foot entirely off. As you apply pressure again, the pedal lowers. With each addition re-application of pedal pressure while riding the brake, the pedal lowers each time. After the third or fourth pedal push it gets kind of scary.
I was out for quite a while today and generally the car ran well except when in stop and go traffic, or when backing into the laneway as I first discovered two weeks ago. I know now how to duplicate the problem. This pedal height problem occurs when you are riding the brake, like in traffic. Picture sitting with your foot on the brake and there is lots of resistance, traffic moves forward so you let up on the brake a bit but not take your foot entirely off. As you apply pressure again, the pedal lowers. With each addition re-application of pedal pressure while riding the brake, the pedal lowers each time. After the third or fourth pedal push it gets kind of scary.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
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From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
The master cylinder is just a pump. It appears to have leaky seals. He could do a brake fluid flush and change. I used to use the Valvoline Syn power fluid in my 79. It's only about $8.00 per quart and the system will not even use it all after draining and replacing
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Thank you for the replies. I am not surprised that it is the master cylinder. This is my former 1979 and I know that the unit has never been replaced. Twenty-eight years of service is impressive. So it's off to NAPA we go.
