C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Brake Problem - Help!!!!!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 10, 2003 | 07:28 PM
  #1  
johnb74's Avatar
johnb74
Thread Starter
Advanced
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 50
Likes: 1
Default Brake Problem - Help!!!!!

I bleed brakes twice on my 74, drove for a few days with a very hard peddle and peddle went to floor on cold start. I checked MC and I was low in rear and high in front reservior. Could air in the system cause this and under what circumstances would brake fluid exchange from front to back? I do not think that 74 and earlier had a real proportioning valve that would exchange fluid and think under certain conditions the MC could exchange fluid? I do not have a leak either! What's up here and should I go back to bleeding. Thanks.
John
Reply
Old Nov 10, 2003 | 07:32 PM
  #2  
Eddie 70's Avatar
Eddie 70
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
St. Jude 10 Year Donor
25 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 34
From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Default Re: Brake Problem - Help!!!!! (johnb74)

Sounds like it may be a master cylinder problem. It must be leaking from the back into the front through the plunger.
Reply
Old Nov 10, 2003 | 07:39 PM
  #3  
Mr D.'s Avatar
Mr D.
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime Gold
20 Year Member
Veteran: Navy
Community Builder
Liked
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 44,627
Likes: 1,827
From: Huntsville AL
Default Re: Brake Problem - Help!!!!! (johnb74)

John
I don't how fluid could transfer from back to forward reservior. If the master cly is bad, maybe (but that is a big maybe), but you should see this in the peddel going to the floor. Now lets assume the calipers are good, thats leaves the master cly sucking air into the rear break system. I would re-bleed the system, make sure the peddle is not bleeding down, and monitor it. The only other ave is to start throwing parts at it. $$$$
Reply
Old Nov 10, 2003 | 07:40 PM
  #4  
Big Fish's Avatar
Big Fish
Safety Car
Supporting Member
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,269
Likes: 3
From: St. Charles IL
Cruise-In 5-6-7-8-9-11-12 Veteran
A CI-6 Car Show Winner
Default Re: Brake Problem - Help!!!!! (johnb74)

My guess would be a leak. It could leak out of the master cylinder into the booster, but it's supposed to leak out between the booster and the cylinder when those seals fail. It most certainly has to be a leak though, where else could the fluid go? Was the front compartment overfilled or just much higher then the rear compartment?
Reply
Old Nov 10, 2003 | 07:59 PM
  #5  
vetteguy75's Avatar
vetteguy75
Melting Slicks
Supporting Member
20 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,713
Likes: 31
From: Shreveport LA
LA Events Coordinator
Default Re: Brake Problem - Help!!!!! (johnb74)

I have a 75 and had the EXACT SAME problem a couple of weeks ago. Took my Vette to the local Chevy/Corvette dealer and they diagnosed the problem to be the master cylinder. The dealership said the master cylinder was "by-passing"...what ever that meant.. All I wanted to do was get it fixed. After they replaced the master cylinder & bled the brakes, they worked PERFECTLY. :thumbs:
Reply
Old Nov 11, 2003 | 08:25 AM
  #6  
johnb74's Avatar
johnb74
Thread Starter
Advanced
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 50
Likes: 1
Default Re: Brake Problem - Help!!!!! - See my last post

Thanks guys! I need to re-check whether I have a leak in any caliper. Does anyone know under what conditions the MC by-passes between reserviors. I would assume worn o-ring seals on double cylinders? I also did not mention that this all started when I changed the front brake pads and sucked in air when I un-froze a stuck caliper piston. The MC worked fine before. I may well be sucking in air on that caliper and probably need to pull it off and check. I do not see a leak with the wheel off, but it may be small? What do you guys think?
John
Reply
Old Nov 11, 2003 | 06:45 PM
  #7  
johnb74's Avatar
johnb74
Thread Starter
Advanced
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 50
Likes: 1
Default Re: Brake Problem - See Last Post

Any feedback on my last post
Reply
Old Nov 11, 2003 | 11:32 PM
  #8  
Big Fish's Avatar
Big Fish
Safety Car
Supporting Member
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,269
Likes: 3
From: St. Charles IL
Cruise-In 5-6-7-8-9-11-12 Veteran
A CI-6 Car Show Winner
Default Re: Brake Problem - See Last Post (johnb74)

John, I'm not trying to be "smart" but I asked a question in my post (3 spaces up) that was not answered, so it's difficult at best to give any additional feedback. Hopefully someone else might have an answer, but I guess I would continue looking for a leak if you are loosing fluid from the rear chamber.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-5

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Nov 11, 2003 | 11:56 PM
  #9  
MN-Brent's Avatar
MN-Brent
Le Mans Master
Veteran: Navy
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,000
Likes: 1
From: Minneapolis, Mn USA
Default Re: Brake Problem - See Last Post (Big Fish)

If you got no leaks and everything appears properly together, then bleed the **** out of them and see what happens. It might take you a quart+ of fluid to get it but you might just get lucky.

Brent...

Reply
Old Nov 12, 2003 | 04:49 AM
  #10  
72CoupeORG(smc)'s Avatar
72CoupeORG(smc)
Racer
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
From: Eau Claire WI
Default Re: Brake Problem - Help!!!!! - See my last post (johnb74)

I had the same problem with air, turned out to be excess run out on the rear rotors & calipers letting air into the system.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Brake Problem - Help!!!!!





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:16 PM.

story-0
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE