brake troubles
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 40
brake troubles
my 74 had new master cly and two new frt calipers put on about two years ago. Every thing was going good until today. Car won't break in straight line and tracks wildly when you touch the brake pedal. Back left and right , sort of scary feeling.
I checked the cylinder and it is full and I don't see any leaks from it.
Pedal is still fairly firm and doesn't go to floor. And car will stop , but sort of wildly.
Guys any ideas on what would cause this crazy breaking action. ?
Can the cailipers pull air into the lines if they are worn out? Problem may be in the rear calipers , as a guess from the feel and strange action upon braking
I think I have noticed a slight increase in this past several times , but to today it got really bad.
Thanks
I checked the cylinder and it is full and I don't see any leaks from it.
Pedal is still fairly firm and doesn't go to floor. And car will stop , but sort of wildly.
Guys any ideas on what would cause this crazy breaking action. ?
Can the cailipers pull air into the lines if they are worn out? Problem may be in the rear calipers , as a guess from the feel and strange action upon braking
I think I have noticed a slight increase in this past several times , but to today it got really bad.
Thanks
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 45
From: Cameron Park CA
Check all four calipers for evidence of leaking at the seals. Brake fluid leaking there can easily get on the pads which will cause erratic braking. Replace any calipers that show evidence of any brake fluid getting past the seals. This is pretty common on our C3s.
Pete
Pete
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,669
Likes: 3
From: Kingston Ontario
You can check the rears by jacking up the rear and having someone apply brakes as you spin the wheel by hand. As soon as the brakes are released you should get easy movement of the wheel. If the wheel binds after releasing the brakes you should feel it quite easily. Check both wheels individually. Also listen to the caliper when making the brake application. Investigate any abnormal sounds. There should be none.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
Another possibility is at least one rubber brake hose has collapsed internally. If the hoses have any age on them replace them all. Having a collapsed or restricted brake hose causes similar problems and can easily be mistaken for a caliper problem.
If the car isn't driven regularly, it can easily be a caliper as already said. The worst thing with the C3 brake system is problems arise when it's not driven regularly.
If the car isn't driven regularly, it can easily be a caliper as already said. The worst thing with the C3 brake system is problems arise when it's not driven regularly.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 40
I've had the is car way over 23 years and have had 3 and 1/2 sets of calipers...... funny each time ........it was suppose to be life time warrenty . I have replaced the front hoses maybe 10years ago . I can't remember when the rear hoses were replaced. 
When the brakes work, I'm very satisfied and I love them. But, they seem to self destruct every few years. I do drive my car at least once a week or maybe three times on short drives in the summer. But , it just never was the type of car you'd drive everyday and go every where.
I suspect the rear calipers and or hoses have gone south. It was hot as the gates of hades today and engine stayed cool . But no fun when you turn left and car brakes right......felt like it was steering from the rear.
Braking was too scary , so I used the gears and emergency brake to do most of the stopping till I could get it home.
I appreicate allthe replys . Anything else that might lend to this situation let me know.
Would I be better served by using the O-RING calipers that are out now ? I think the std. isssue ones is all that it has ever had.
When the brakes work, I'm very satisfied and I love them. But, they seem to self destruct every few years. I do drive my car at least once a week or maybe three times on short drives in the summer. But , it just never was the type of car you'd drive everyday and go every where.
I suspect the rear calipers and or hoses have gone south. It was hot as the gates of hades today and engine stayed cool . But no fun when you turn left and car brakes right......felt like it was steering from the rear.
Braking was too scary , so I used the gears and emergency brake to do most of the stopping till I could get it home.
I appreicate allthe replys . Anything else that might lend to this situation let me know.
Would I be better served by using the O-RING calipers that are out now ? I think the std. isssue ones is all that it has ever had.
Last edited by LS4 PILOT; Jun 23, 2010 at 09:59 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: Dallas Texas
Would I be better served by using the O-RING calipers that are out now ? I think the std. isssue ones is all that it has ever had.
Jeff
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Pro
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 699
Likes: 3
From: Millersville, MD
And in some cases, like mine, you won't notice until you remove the caliper. I'd start here. Does your MC fluid look milky? And as roughrider said, could be a collapsed brake line. Easy to replace.