Almost died today!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: Tallahassee Florida
Almost died today!
Well, I was heading to work in my 84 today when I was coming up to a really busy intersection, and go to hit the brakes... They felt fine at first but when I actually put some decent pressure on them the petal hit the floor! 
I was still going like 40-45mph and hit the e brake and of course the tires locked up. I slide through the a red light through the only hole in traffic and ended up smack dab in the middle of the intersection! Tires screeching and horns honking... One of the worst rides I've ever been on... 
The weird part was that after I pulled my jaw from my lap and opened my eyes the brakes seemed to work fine... WTF! Any ideas? 
I was still going like 40-45mph and hit the e brake and of course the tires locked up. I slide through the a red light through the only hole in traffic and ended up smack dab in the middle of the intersection! Tires screeching and horns honking... One of the worst rides I've ever been on... The weird part was that after I pulled my jaw from my lap and opened my eyes the brakes seemed to work fine... WTF! Any ideas?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
You got lucky! First guess is the MC internal seals are busted. Don't drive that thing until you fix it. IMHO I'd replace the MC and replace all the fluid/bleed the entire system.....brakes are never a bad thing to throw money at.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,022
Likes: 3
From: Chandler Arizona
you should also change out the brake boost with will eventually go bad too! if you lost pressure it's the seals. if the pedal is extremely hard, it's the brake booster.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: Tallahassee Florida
Yea I figured it was the MC.. I have been having to refill the rear cup with fluid everyother time I drive it... But never had any problem like that... Usually when it runs out I can still use the front brakes.. A little scarybut still stopped... Anyways wish me luck I still have to drive it home 
.... Only about 10 miles...
.... Only about 10 miles...
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 258
Likes: 0
From: Coram NY
Yea I figured it was the MC.. I have been having to refill the rear cup with fluid everyother time I drive it... But never had any problem like that... Usually when it runs out I can still use the front brakes.. A little scarybut still stopped... Anyways wish me luck I still have to drive it home .... Only about 10 miles...
.... Only about 10 miles...or possibly a leaky brake line? or last is it blowing into the front cup and leaking from there?
You have have to determine the root cause before you change something, like the first post said, its not a bad thing to throw money at brakes, but make sure you got it fixed!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,286
Likes: 6
From: Palm Beach
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,699
Likes: 1,667
From: moraga ca
If you need to refill brake fluid constantly, you have a leak (obviously). Pull all the wheels off and look at the calipers and inside the wheels to see if brake fluid is leaking. Look at all the brake line fittings. The stuff is coming out somewhere. Don't mean to rag on you, but a car with a leaking brake system is one that should be left in the garage. Adding brake fluid is not like adding motor oil. As you found out, it can result in death to you or others. Very irresponsible.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: Tallahassee Florida
The question is: where is it leaking from? is it from the rear calipers?
or possibly a leaky brake line? or last is it blowing into the front cup and leaking from there?
You have have to determine the root cause before you change something, like the first post said, its not a bad thing to throw money at brakes, but make sure you got it fixed!
or possibly a leaky brake line? or last is it blowing into the front cup and leaking from there?
You have have to determine the root cause before you change something, like the first post said, its not a bad thing to throw money at brakes, but make sure you got it fixed!
(If you drive that car home you need your *** kicked. You have been cheating death for awhile.)
I guess your right.. I don't know if its my age or what but I wanna drive it home..
The responable thing to would be get a flatbed to get it and sit in the car with the motor running( or making motor noises) and let the driver take me home... 
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: Tallahassee Florida
On a serious note... I just popped the hood to look for leaks... The rear cup in almost empty and the front is full but the yop was half way off.. Whats that mean when it spews out the other cup? I noticed alot of smoke when the brakes stopped working, I'm sure it was just fluid on the manifold...
Thanks
Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
Means the MC is busted internally. IN your deal the fluid is transfered from one resevoir to the other until it can't hold any more...then the lid pops off and fluid shoots out into the engine bay. The fluid is flamable so if you drive the car and don't crash from being without brakes the fluid fire will get you for sure. If the brake fluid leaked back into the brake booster you'll want to pickup a new booster and install that when you do the MC.
lol j/k
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,699
Likes: 1,667
From: moraga ca
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,470
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From: levittown pa. usa Even a bad day with my `Vette, is better than a good day at work
St. Jude Donor '10
100%. You have to keep filling the brake reservoir, & that did not ring any alarm bells with you? You did not notice any puddles/wet spots under the car or in your driveway? This stuff is hydraulic fluid. It dosen`t evaporate like washer fluid. As stated you were very lucky
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: Tallahassee Florida
100%. You have to keep filling the brake reservoir, & that did not ring any alarm bells with you? You did not notice any puddles/wet spots under the car or in your driveway? This stuff is hydraulic fluid. It dosen`t evaporate like washer fluid. As stated you were very lucky
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,470
Likes: 2
From: levittown pa. usa Even a bad day with my `Vette, is better than a good day at work
St. Jude Donor '10
Race Director
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From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
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I thought brakes were designed to function independently....specifically, that the front and rear "circuits" were different pathways. The origin of the design was to provide partial braking to front or rear if/when the opposite section went bad.
IOW, I didn't think this scenario was likely to happen!
IOW, I didn't think this scenario was likely to happen!