C3 Brake Question
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 81
From: Hamilton Virginia
C3 Brake Question
On my 76 I have been trying to get the brakes working correctly and here is my question ,
If I can press on the pedal easy I have a good stopping power and holding power, but if I press really hard, the pedal will start to stop the car but then go to the floor and barely stop. Even if I pump them up it still does the same thing. Do I still have air in the lines ? or is something else wrong like the master cylinder or the brake booster going bad ?
If I can press on the pedal easy I have a good stopping power and holding power, but if I press really hard, the pedal will start to stop the car but then go to the floor and barely stop. Even if I pump them up it still does the same thing. Do I still have air in the lines ? or is something else wrong like the master cylinder or the brake booster going bad ?
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,946
Likes: 28
From: Long Beach CA
A couple of questions...
Are you losing any fluid? Is either reservoir going down?
If you're sitting still and press and hold the pedal, does it stay firm, or does the pedal slowly sink to the floor?
Are you losing any fluid? Is either reservoir going down?
If you're sitting still and press and hold the pedal, does it stay firm, or does the pedal slowly sink to the floor?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 81
From: Hamilton Virginia
If I am sitting still like at a light I can have my foot on the brake and it hold fine, but if I press really hard , it will sink to the floor.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Rule of thumb.
If you can pump it up quickly and it holds a higher and higher pedal then you have air.
If it sinks while trying to hold a pedal, then you either have an external fluid leak or if none, then an internal master leak. Easy way to check for external leaks is to track the fluid level in the reservoir after many pumps or lots of use.
If you can pump it up quickly and it holds a higher and higher pedal then you have air.
If it sinks while trying to hold a pedal, then you either have an external fluid leak or if none, then an internal master leak. Easy way to check for external leaks is to track the fluid level in the reservoir after many pumps or lots of use.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 81
From: Hamilton Virginia
I have no fluid loss at all. If I slow down normal and come to a stop the pedal holds fine. while sitting at a light it holds fine, does not go to the floor at all. its when I am sitting there at a light and if I push real hard, the pedal will sink. If I have to hit the brakes hard and fast, the pedal will hold for a short then sink as I push harder.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 850
Likes: 36
From: Providence RI
I have no fluid loss at all. If I slow down normal and come to a stop the pedal holds fine. while sitting at a light it holds fine, does not go to the floor at all. its when I am sitting there at a light and if I push real hard, the pedal will sink. If I have to hit the brakes hard and fast, the pedal will hold for a short then sink as I push harder.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 81
From: Hamilton Virginia
I am still trying to figure out my problem. I do have some more info to add though. When I do step on the brake fast and hard I hear like air sound under the dash near the pedal and the cars idle sounds like a miss in it till I left off the brake. could there be something wrong with the brake booster? too much vacuum ?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
