Brake question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 360
Likes: 0
From: Canton Ohio
Brake question
My '68 has been sitting 14 years and I check to see if I still had brakes. The pedal has lots of pressure and will not go to the floor. The calipers are rust colored and it is not leaking brake fluid. Do I have brakes? :confused:
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: Brake question (68350hp)
OK, probably for now, but I wouldn't trust them...no way...gotta make sure you have stainless lined calipers at a minimum, if you don't, make plans to get some on there...
GENE
GENE
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco, CA
Re: Brake question (mrvette)
I agree with Mr. Vette. It is unlikely they will last long. At least change he fluid. Check the calipers carefully, ie pull them off the rotors and take a look. Rubber flex hoses at each wheel are also probably shot.
Abby Normal
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 53,209
Likes: 92
From: Press "2" for English
Re: Brake question (68350hp)
ain't no way i'd trust those brakes! :nonod: you may have a high pedal simply because the pistons have been rusted/corroded into place and therefore will not move.
get yourself a peice of 3/4" pvc pipe and cut it to about 54" (see my c3 one man brake bleeder in tech) and put the car up on jack-stands. check the wheels to make sure they rotate freely, then put the pvc on the brake pedal, bow it and stick the other end on the door striker bolt. then try to rotate the wheels. if the wheels don't rotate, you have brakes--for now. if they do rotate, guess what. either way, after 14 years, i'd plan on a complete rebuild.
get yourself a peice of 3/4" pvc pipe and cut it to about 54" (see my c3 one man brake bleeder in tech) and put the car up on jack-stands. check the wheels to make sure they rotate freely, then put the pvc on the brake pedal, bow it and stick the other end on the door striker bolt. then try to rotate the wheels. if the wheels don't rotate, you have brakes--for now. if they do rotate, guess what. either way, after 14 years, i'd plan on a complete rebuild.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,407
Likes: 2
From: Carmichael CA
Re: Brake question (68350hp)
Don't trust them. What probably has happened is the caliper seals have rusted to the calipers and the rust is all that is holding the fluid back from squirting out. Once you start using the brakes and the calipers pistons start moving in and out the seals will break the rust layer and start leaking...you might get about 100 miles and then all of a sudden have NO brakes at all.
You need to remove the calipers and inspect the seals, rubber hoses, steel lines, and only if every thing looks good (which I'm sure there will be things that don't look good and need to be replaced) then flush the system with fresh brake fluid by suctioning out the master cylinder with a turkey baster (buy a new one to replace it BEFORE using the old one...saves a lot of pain that could happen if the wife finds it in the shop) and filling with fresh fluid and pumping it out each bleeder (remember there are two bleeders at the top of the rear calipers that need to be bled).
Also, make sure your emergency brakes work properly.
You need to remove the calipers and inspect the seals, rubber hoses, steel lines, and only if every thing looks good (which I'm sure there will be things that don't look good and need to be replaced) then flush the system with fresh brake fluid by suctioning out the master cylinder with a turkey baster (buy a new one to replace it BEFORE using the old one...saves a lot of pain that could happen if the wife finds it in the shop) and filling with fresh fluid and pumping it out each bleeder (remember there are two bleeders at the top of the rear calipers that need to be bled).
Also, make sure your emergency brakes work properly.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 360
Likes: 0
From: Canton Ohio
Re: Brake question (mrvette)
I know, I would never trust them to drive but would there be enough brakes to drive the car home from the mechanic where the car would be getting running again. My dad had to wait a week or two till the SS brakes got to the mechanic. Would they last the 2 or 3 miles back to where the car is stored?
