Puzzeled
Thread Starter
Navigator
Joined: Nov 2012
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Puzzeled
Hi, i'm a new member and was hoping to get some answers to my dilemma. I purchased my '84 corvette from an old friend. He had stored the car for the last seven years in his garage and used it for a shelf to store stuff on. Well i got it running and had to replace the fuel pump, now i'm having brake problems. I changed the master cylinder and bled the brakes manually but could not get all the air out of the lines. So i took it to firestone and had them power flush, brake light still on in dash and pedal still hard. They said i needed to change out the booster, did that and still brake light is on and pedal hard. Any words of wisdom for me?
Joe
Joe
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,796
Likes: 14
From: Nampa Idaho
Sounds about right! You also need to change all of the fluids with it sitting that long! How are the tires, they are probably shot too?
Oh welcome to the forum, is this your first vette? Pictures are mandatory!
Oh welcome to the forum, is this your first vette? Pictures are mandatory!
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,699
Likes: 1,667
From: moraga ca
I wonder if the car was not moved for 7 years if the caliper pistons may have corroded and are stuck in the bores. You changed the master cylinder and the booster. That leaves the calipers.
Thread Starter
Navigator
Joined: Nov 2012
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Thanks,
yes it is my first vette and it took me till 65 yrs old to get it. I had the motor oil & transmission oil change, yes the tires are weather rotted. That is interesting about the calipers i'll have to check it out. I tried to post a picture but having a problem loading it. Just learning how to navigate this site.
yes it is my first vette and it took me till 65 yrs old to get it. I had the motor oil & transmission oil change, yes the tires are weather rotted. That is interesting about the calipers i'll have to check it out. I tried to post a picture but having a problem loading it. Just learning how to navigate this site.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 613
Likes: 3
Hi, i'm a new member and was hoping to get some answers to my dilemma. I purchased my '84 corvette from an old friend. He had stored the car for the last seven years in his garage and used it for a shelf to store stuff on. Well i got it running and had to replace the fuel pump, now i'm having brake problems. I changed the master cylinder and bled the brakes manually but could not get all the air out of the lines. So i took it to firestone and had them power flush, brake light still on in dash and pedal still hard. They said i needed to change out the booster, did that and still brake light is on and pedal hard. Any words of wisdom for me?
Joe
Joe
I've heard nothing but bad things about firestone find a good independant mechanic that knows these cars you will need him for other things down the road. Their power flush may not have gotten all the air out of the master cylinder.
If the pistons are frozen due to rust replace them they will bind and wear out your tires from pulling to one side and wear out your brake pads very quickly no matter how well you stop.
Did you bench bleed the master cylinder BEFORE installing it and bleeding the brakes?
If not you will have to take the master cylinder off, bench bleed it with a kit ( tubes and fittings napa sells the kit ) to get all the air bubbles out and prime the mc.
THEN re-install and bleed your brakes again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bEPrO99B5A
Last edited by GQ-ROD; Nov 8, 2012 at 08:53 AM.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,556
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There is no low fluid sensor on a '84
Light on ( other than a elec problem as you mention ) is the brake system ( front / rear ) being out of balance ;
the piston in the proportioning valve has moved to one side or the other activating the switch for the light
Light on ( other than a elec problem as you mention ) is the brake system ( front / rear ) being out of balance ;
the piston in the proportioning valve has moved to one side or the other activating the switch for the light
Thread Starter
Navigator
Joined: Nov 2012
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Someone had mentioned the proportioning valve, when i went to the auto parts store they said it didn't show one. I'm just an "old" back alley mechanic and have a hard time with all the new innovative improvements.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
Also check to see if the emergency brake is released too. It will turn on the light also.
When I bought my '88 the dealer told me the brakes were bad and I got a good deal. It was simply that they didn't know how to release the emergency brake. I released it and never had any brake problems. So even the dealers may not have a clue.
Also at an emissions test in AZ, they couldn't figure out how to turn off the brake light by releasing the emergency brake. They tried to run the dyno test with the brake on until I came out screaming at them to stop. These people see a lot of cars and still didn't know.
Good luck.
When I bought my '88 the dealer told me the brakes were bad and I got a good deal. It was simply that they didn't know how to release the emergency brake. I released it and never had any brake problems. So even the dealers may not have a clue.
Also at an emissions test in AZ, they couldn't figure out how to turn off the brake light by releasing the emergency brake. They tried to run the dyno test with the brake on until I came out screaming at them to stop. These people see a lot of cars and still didn't know.
Good luck.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 613
Likes: 3
My fault sorry for the confusion,
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Also check to see if the emergency brake is released too. It will turn on the light also.
When I bought my '88 the dealer told me the brakes were bad and I got a good deal. It was simply that they didn't know how to release the emergency brake. I released it and never had any brake problems. So even the dealers may not have a clue.
When I bought my '88 the dealer told me the brakes were bad and I got a good deal. It was simply that they didn't know how to release the emergency brake. I released it and never had any brake problems. So even the dealers may not have a clue.
1. the proportioning valve switch, as vetteoz mentioned.
2. e-brake switch
3. calipers for sticking.
It's seems odd to me that the proportioning valve could be off center (causing a brake light), buy still you'd have a hard pedal. Usually, a brake light illumination from the proportioning valve coincides w/a soft pedal; on "side" of the brake system has a leak.
Test the above and report back!
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,315
Likes: 15
From: Richmond Virginia
Check out that thread, it'll teach you what to do! You can also use other sites. I personally use Razzi, because photobucket deletes pictures after 90 days of not logging in to the site.
I looked on your profile, and your Vette looks nice! White is a good color on C4's. I usually hate white cars, but just look on my signature and see what color my Vette is!
One last thing, 65 isn't to old to get a Vette, my Grandfather just got his first Vette (a '99 6-speed Vert) in August at 66!
-Jay
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,315
Likes: 15
From: Richmond Virginia
http://imageshack.us/
http://imgur.com/
http://beta.photobucket.com/
http://razzi.me/
Those are the only ones I know off of the top of my head. I've only personally used Photobucket and Razzi. I personally like Razzi more.