C3 Brake Help
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
C3 Brake Help
Need help with the brakes on my 79 L82. When the car is cold, the brakes are "mushy"; pedal to floor, have to be pumped. When the car is hot (runs hot most of the time - another discussion) the brakes seem to be on; car will barely rool downhill. Need only 1/4 inch travel for hard braking. I have replaced the booster and master cylinder and flushed the system at least three time (doing other brake work).
Any suggestions? wrong brake fluid?
Any suggestions? wrong brake fluid?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Even though the brake fluid gets hotter in certain areas after the engine is running, it does expand but does not increase any pressure because without the pedal depressed the hydraulics in effect are vented to the master cyl reservoir.
You may have bad hoses or engine vacuum that changes when the engine is hot.
Master may leak internally cold and then seal better when hot. They do get pretty warm.
If your pedal needs to be pumped, that's usually a sign of air.
You may have bad hoses or engine vacuum that changes when the engine is hot.
Master may leak internally cold and then seal better when hot. They do get pretty warm.
If your pedal needs to be pumped, that's usually a sign of air.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 72
Likes: 2
If the rubber hydraulic brake hoses on the car are more than 10 years old then I would start by replacing the hoses, bleeding the system to get a firm petal and see how well the brake system works. Old hoses can collapse internally and cause the brakes to do funny things.
Bleeding Note: The rear calipers have two locations per side to bleed and both must be bleed starting with the inside and then moving to the outside.
Bleeding Note: The rear calipers have two locations per side to bleed and both must be bleed starting with the inside and then moving to the outside.
