brake fluid heating up
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2
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brake fluid heating up
When I got my 76 vett the brakes went almost to the floor before they would engage but they still worked, now when you start it up you still have the soft pedal but it works until you drive it for about 2 miles then they completely go out, Avon opening the hood I discovered that my master cylinder was way to hot to even attempt to touch so I replaced the master cylinder checked all the brakes and nothing appears to be rubbing (that I could see) I've flushed and bled the system over and over. No lines are resting on anything that will get it too hot. I just don't understand what's going on here so if anyone has experience with this kind of problem please help.... oh and if I leave it in park with the engine on it doesn't heat up the brake fluid or master at all, only when it's in drive and once the brakes go out you can faintly here a scrape from one of the passenger side wheels but I couldn't find any scraping.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,524
Likes: 1,956
From: Temple Terrace Florida
Brakes
I will take a stab at your problem. Either something is sticking or is not adjusted correctly. When this happens can you feel each caliper to see if they are all hot. Could be a clogged rubber line or lines at each wheel or your calipers may need rebuilding. The rubber lines may look OK from the outside but could be clogged on the inside. Fluid can enter the caliper and not get out. Also a few pistons may be sticking in the bore in each caliper. Lastly, the slight drag you are feeling may be a M/C rod set incorrectly. As you drive, things heat up and expand and create drag. Lastly, if you are loosing your pedal, consider measuring the run out on each rotor. If it is over .005, you are pumping air into the system. Good luck. Jerry
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Have you replaced the [rubber] flex lines that connect the calipers to the brake lines? If not, they are probably 'toast' [internally] and are blocking brake fluid flow to the calipers. That is potentially a dangerous situation, as the calipers can become partially applied while driving. They can severely overheat (sounds like your problem) and eventually catch a tire on fire!!
If you haven't replaced them all, please do!!
If you haven't replaced them all, please do!!
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
We do Vette repair as a side business. People neglect ever changing the brake fluid. In the past year I have had to replace all the hard lines on two vettes because they were rusted clogged from the inside. Holding one or more calipers clamped down on the rotor
If the vette is from a wet climate it is a common problem.
If the vette is from a wet climate it is a common problem.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,574
Likes: 7,017
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Like the members said: The fastest repair would be to shorten the rod between the master cylinder and the power brake booster by one or two turns....then drive around in an empty parking lot to see if the problem is solved.
Then check to see if one caliper is much hotter than the others.
Next would be to replace the rubber brake lines at each caliper and bleed all the overheated fluid out of the brake lines
Then check to see if one caliper is much hotter than the others.
Next would be to replace the rubber brake lines at each caliper and bleed all the overheated fluid out of the brake lines
