Hello All!! Just signed on.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: cottage grove MN
Hello All!! Just signed on.
This is my first post, and I bought my first Corvette last week.
Its a 1981 t-top (I will try to load picture). The car has 56,000 miles on her and has been well taken care of (my brother owned it previously).
Anyway it has only 2000 miles put on it in the last ten years , so it has a few things wrong with it , mostly stuff associated with the car sitting so much.
Noticed that the brake pedal was spongy and the front left caliper was leaking a little fluid , so I removed the caliper , honed out the cylinders ,put in a new seal kit, replaced the master cylinder and gravity bled all four wheels. This seemed to help a little but the pedal is still spongy and the brake warning light on the dash still comes on. Anyone have any ideas?
Its a 1981 t-top (I will try to load picture). The car has 56,000 miles on her and has been well taken care of (my brother owned it previously).
Anyway it has only 2000 miles put on it in the last ten years , so it has a few things wrong with it , mostly stuff associated with the car sitting so much.
Noticed that the brake pedal was spongy and the front left caliper was leaking a little fluid , so I removed the caliper , honed out the cylinders ,put in a new seal kit, replaced the master cylinder and gravity bled all four wheels. This seemed to help a little but the pedal is still spongy and the brake warning light on the dash still comes on. Anyone have any ideas?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,298
Likes: 1
From: Sodertalje/Sweden
Re: Hello All!! Just signed on. (Harv69)
Welcom to the Shark Pond...Hope you brung your wallet :jester :cheers: :cheers:
If the pedal is still "spongy" theres some air left in the system.C3s are a bear to bleed.. :smash: :smash:
If the pedal is still "spongy" theres some air left in the system.C3s are a bear to bleed.. :smash: :smash:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,007
Likes: 0
From: many sticks land of mountains
Re: Hello All!! Just signed on. (Harv69)
Welcome to the forum!
I would keep checking for other leaks. I know that on my 76, the hoses were bad and leaked. When I replaced the callipers, I thought that the problem was solved. There was so much crud around the hoses, that it was not dripping or seeping onto the driveway. I didn't know they were leaking untill I went to searching for more trouble.
Good luck, and be ready for the fact that you will never be done tinkering with your new toy.
Enjoy the Addiction, it's great! And you have come to the right place for information. The people on this forum have such a wealth of knowledge that you will be amazed.
TJRed76 :cheers:
I would keep checking for other leaks. I know that on my 76, the hoses were bad and leaked. When I replaced the callipers, I thought that the problem was solved. There was so much crud around the hoses, that it was not dripping or seeping onto the driveway. I didn't know they were leaking untill I went to searching for more trouble.
Good luck, and be ready for the fact that you will never be done tinkering with your new toy.
Enjoy the Addiction, it's great! And you have come to the right place for information. The people on this forum have such a wealth of knowledge that you will be amazed.
TJRed76 :cheers:
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Re: Hello All!! Just signed on. (Harv69)
Most C3 brake systems after 20+ years will need a rebuild. New Stainless Steel sleeved calipers are the only way to go. Get a NEW master cylinder and check to make sure the rotors have enough meat left on them. When all this is replaced you will have a safe braking car.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
From: Denham Springs La
Re: Hello All!! Just signed on. (Harv69)
Not to discourage you, I ended up replacing the master cylinder 3 calipers and the two front brake lines. My car had set up for about five years before I bought it.
Before I bought anything else I would try to bleed the brakes again it has been my experience that it is hard to get all of the air out unless you vacum bleed the lines.
Just a word of warning if you do spring a leak while driving you will have very little brakes if any. Been there done that!
Good luck, IETEK :cool:
Before I bought anything else I would try to bleed the brakes again it has been my experience that it is hard to get all of the air out unless you vacum bleed the lines.
Just a word of warning if you do spring a leak while driving you will have very little brakes if any. Been there done that!
Good luck, IETEK :cool:
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,731
Likes: 22
From: Marietta Ga.
Re: Hello All!! Just signed on. (Harv69)
:seeya welcome to the pond. Lot's of help here. If you do a search in the archives, you will find more than you want to read on brakes. The light in the dash, is used for parking brake on, low fluid in master clyinder and the proportioning valve, if the caliper was leaking, then it would slide to put more stopping power on the rear, you have to reset them sometimes. This is covered in the archives also.
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Instructor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: New Hill NC
Re: Hello All!! Just signed on. (Harv69)
Welcome and glad you're here. These guys know what they are talking about so all you have to do is listen and crack open that wallet.. Had to replace all 4 callipers with SS and while I was at it, put on SS hoses too... It is just money, you will make more.... :flag
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 3
From: Wildwood IL
Re: Hello All!! Just signed on. (Alwyn678)
:seeya :seeya We will help you spend your last DIME :cheers:
[Modified by Alwyn678, 1:49 PM 4/10/2003]
[Modified by Alwyn678, 1:49 PM 4/10/2003]
Welcome..... :seeya :seeya :seeya
Eddie
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,514
Likes: 1
Re: Hello All!! Just signed on. (rreavis)
Welcome, you'll need a helper but check the hoses to make sure they aren't "bulging" as pressure is applied. Or alternatively just figure on going thru all the calipers and hoses, as if one caliper has gone bad the others probably are in nearly the same condition.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,609
Likes: 1
From: Behind the wheel of a large automobile
Re: Hello All!! Just signed on. (rreavis)
Welcome ....... considering you can't stop, it's a great start :lol:
My baby sat for a long period too. I ended up changing all 4 calipers and the master cylinder. A little nasty on the bleed but had some friends to help out.
Good luck
My baby sat for a long period too. I ended up changing all 4 calipers and the master cylinder. A little nasty on the bleed but had some friends to help out.
Good luck
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 24,906
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From: Swords Check/Saws Check/Clubs Check/Claws Check/Hatred Check/Anger Check/Murmaid Check/Murder Check
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Re: Hello All!! Just signed on. (Harv69)
Noticed that the brake pedal was spongy and the front left caliper was leaking a little fluid , so I removed the caliper , honed out the cylinders ,put in a new seal kit, replaced the master cylinder and gravity bled all four wheels. This seemed to help a little but the pedal is still spongy and the brake warning light on the dash still comes on. Anyone have any ideas?
[Modified by SnoDrgn, 1:57 PM 4/10/2003]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 75
From: Tampa Bay FL
Re: Hello All!! Just signed on. (Harv69)
Be doubly sure you are bleeding Front and Rear calipers in proper sequence. Front has two bleeders (one per caliper) so Left front, then Right Front.
Rear is a little more tricky. Left Rear inner, Left Rear Outer, Right Rear Inner, Right Rear Outer.
Rear is a little more tricky. Left Rear inner, Left Rear Outer, Right Rear Inner, Right Rear Outer.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,362
Likes: 7
From: Brazos TX
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Re: Hello All!! Just signed on. (Harv69)
Greetings. We are glad to have you here. Overall it sounds like you have a pretty nice car. I second TedH's suggestion about bleeding the rear calipers. It would probably be a good idea to change the seals on all the calipers. Were they stainless steel sleeved or just stock cast iron?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 6,217
Likes: 1
From: End of the Ike IL
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Re: Hello All!! Just signed on. (Harv69)
Hiya Harv69 :seeya You can use the search function over <-- there to find out about all kinds of stuff, too.