brake question
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1
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From: Mechanicsville VA
brake question
I recently purchased a low milage 1990 (My first Vette). The brakes are spungy when I first apply them, but tighten up when I get back on them. I assumed this was air in the system, so I bleed the brakes. Unfortunatly, this did not fix the problem. Any suggestions on what I try next?
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Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 4,623
Likes: 2
From: Ohio
Re: brake question (hokiecorvette)
Hey hokie, welcome to the Forum! You will find a lot of good info here.
Back to your brake question. Not knowing your definition of bleeding the brakes there may be more to try first before springing for a new master. (not cheap) If the car is new to you, it may still have some original brake fluid in it. If you have access to a power bleeder, use it. If not, then get a patient assistant and purge ALL of the existing fluid out of your system. (You can avoid having to push all of the fluid in the resevoir through by getting your [pick one] wife's, mother's, sister's etc. turkey baster and suck out what you can before you start the process. Then of course fill with new) I would try this process, if you didn't do it the first time before buying a new master. This will be needed anyway, so if it doesn't do the trick, nothing really lost..
[Modified by h rocks, 12:00 AM 1/21/2002]
Back to your brake question. Not knowing your definition of bleeding the brakes there may be more to try first before springing for a new master. (not cheap) If the car is new to you, it may still have some original brake fluid in it. If you have access to a power bleeder, use it. If not, then get a patient assistant and purge ALL of the existing fluid out of your system. (You can avoid having to push all of the fluid in the resevoir through by getting your [pick one] wife's, mother's, sister's etc. turkey baster and suck out what you can before you start the process. Then of course fill with new) I would try this process, if you didn't do it the first time before buying a new master. This will be needed anyway, so if it doesn't do the trick, nothing really lost..
[Modified by h rocks, 12:00 AM 1/21/2002]
NCM Bash 2008-2018
Joined: Jul 1999
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From: Granby, MA Talladega Super Speedway Vettes 4 Vets Ambassador
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Cruise-In 1, 3, 9. 10 & 11 Veteran
Re: brake question (h rocks)
yep i agree master cylinder....
heres a helpful tip though...WHATEVER YOU DO....DON'T AND I REPEAT DON'T.....BUY ONE FROM A DEALER....HUGE RIPOFF!!!!! HUGE
CHECK IT OUT....
Advanced Auto Parts and Auto Zone.....
$75 new refurbished w/lifetime warrantee PBR (stock on the c4's)
the dealerships....$550 and $600 for the same part....and only a year warrantee...
go and check it out ya don't believe me....hehe....
unbelieable!!!!!!!!
heres a helpful tip though...WHATEVER YOU DO....DON'T AND I REPEAT DON'T.....BUY ONE FROM A DEALER....HUGE RIPOFF!!!!! HUGE
CHECK IT OUT....
Advanced Auto Parts and Auto Zone.....
$75 new refurbished w/lifetime warrantee PBR (stock on the c4's)
the dealerships....$550 and $600 for the same part....and only a year warrantee...
go and check it out ya don't believe me....hehe....
unbelieable!!!!!!!!
Racer
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 355
Likes: 0
From: Sarasota FL
Re: brake question (hokiecorvette)
Just put a $74 Discount Auto master cylinder on my 90 a week ago. The re-built master cylinder didn't include the reservoirs, so I got new ones from the local Chevy dealer for $8. Make sure you bench-bleed the m/c before you mount it on the car. I also flushed out the entire system, bleeding each of the calipers until I got new clean fluid coming out. Not a bad job, an easy Saturday morning.
Mark ;)
Mark ;)
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,767
Likes: 5
From: Jacksonville Fl
Re: brake question (hokiecorvette)
It is NOT the master cylinder UNLESS you have brake pedal fade, IE: pedal moves to the floor if you hold a steady pressure on it for a long period of time.
Other than that, it's AIR in the calipers/lines. A few thorough flushes with new brake fluid will fix it. Definitely end with gravity drain bleeding method, not the pump/bleed/pump/bleed with a friend method ( that does not work well on Corvettes ).
Other than that, it's AIR in the calipers/lines. A few thorough flushes with new brake fluid will fix it. Definitely end with gravity drain bleeding method, not the pump/bleed/pump/bleed with a friend method ( that does not work well on Corvettes ).
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