Brake problem...Help!
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Summerville South Carolina
Brake problem...Help!
Fellas,
My brakes were spungy on my 77 but the car would still stop with a little extra effort. It got to were the pedal was going all the way to the floor, but the car would still stop. I bled the brakes today, and now it wont stop at all. Before I start the car the brake pedal is nice and stiff. As soon as I crank her up the pedal goes straight to the floor with little effort. If I put the car in drive or reverse there is no stopping! Do you guys have any suggestions as to the problem? Would bleeding the brakes again help? I'm at a loss. Thanks in advance for any help.
Chuck
My brakes were spungy on my 77 but the car would still stop with a little extra effort. It got to were the pedal was going all the way to the floor, but the car would still stop. I bled the brakes today, and now it wont stop at all. Before I start the car the brake pedal is nice and stiff. As soon as I crank her up the pedal goes straight to the floor with little effort. If I put the car in drive or reverse there is no stopping! Do you guys have any suggestions as to the problem? Would bleeding the brakes again help? I'm at a loss. Thanks in advance for any help.
Chuck
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 444
Likes: 0
From: Roselle IL
When did they last work right?
First look for brake fluid leaking out of the calipers and on to the disc and pads. If you see leaking fluid, you need to rebuild or replace.
If you do not find fluid leaking anywhere (be sure to check all lines, escpecially the rubber lines) then then next thing to look at will be the master cylinder. If it has failed, this will cause the symptoms you are experiencing.
First look for brake fluid leaking out of the calipers and on to the disc and pads. If you see leaking fluid, you need to rebuild or replace.
If you do not find fluid leaking anywhere (be sure to check all lines, escpecially the rubber lines) then then next thing to look at will be the master cylinder. If it has failed, this will cause the symptoms you are experiencing.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
From: Stony Brook New York
It sounds to me like you got more air in the brake lines when you tried to bleed them. Did you ever bleed brakes before? Does the pedal go all the way to the floor and does the "brake" light on the dash light up when you press the brake pedal?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Sounds like more air in the lines.Also, after you get that air out drive the car to a brake shop with a lift and ask them to check the "Rotor Runout" on all four corners.
If you have a bad bearing on any corner it'll cause the rotors to wobble. This acting on the caliper pistons creates kind of an air pump and it sucks air in and fluid back up into the master.
This might be how you got air in the lines to begin with.
Also mentioned above, replace the master with a new unit or rebuild your yourself. Don't buy a refurb since they sit on the shelves for too long and the seals dry up.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
It sounds kinda similar to what happened with the '78 I used to own. In my case it was a caliper that instead of leaking fluid, it was sucking air in. No matter how much it was bled, it kept sucking in more air.
You generally think that a caliper will leak fluid, but not suck air...but it tends to happen not too uncommonly on the C3 brake system.
You generally think that a caliper will leak fluid, but not suck air...but it tends to happen not too uncommonly on the C3 brake system.
