C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Are the Brakes going out?????? [Help]

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Old Jun 15, 2002 | 09:52 PM
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Default Are the Brakes going out?????? [Help]

I noticed today that after i drive the car for about 15 minutes sometimes the brake pedal would go almost to the floor before engaging the brakes, and sometimes it would travel very little before it starts to engage the brakes.....

I checked the brake fluid and it is full......

I have replaced the front brake pads and turned the rotors on the front. - When i did this, I just took the top of the resevoir when i compressed the calipers, I don't think any air got in the system and the brakes seemed fine after this about 4 weeks ago.

Any ideas on what I can check to determine what is the culprit?????
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Old Jun 15, 2002 | 10:05 PM
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Default Re: Are the Brakes going out?????? [Help] (Husker Vette)

sounds like the brake booster.
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Old Jun 15, 2002 | 10:34 PM
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Default Re: Are the Brakes going out?????? [Help] (MBVette)

Is there a way to check if it is the brake booster, or do you have to replace it to find out?????
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Old Jun 16, 2002 | 12:20 AM
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Default Re: Are the Brakes going out?????? [Help] (Husker Vette)

Well, if its the brake booster, then youd have to press the pedal to the floor all the time to get it to stop, you really have to slam it. What you have doesnt sound like that exactly, but the booster or master cylinder is the culprit.
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Old Jun 16, 2002 | 01:22 PM
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Default Re: Are the Brakes going out?????? [Help] (vader86)

Well, if its the brake booster, then youd have to press the pedal to the floor all the time to get it to stop, you really have to slam it. What you have doesnt sound like that exactly, but the booster or master cylinder is the culprit.
I would have to agree.. The master cylinder most likely has a seal gone bad. Do you notice the brakes working differently in different temperatures or if they work better or worse after driving the car for a while?

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Old Jun 16, 2002 | 03:12 PM
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Default Re: Are the Brakes going out?????? [Help] (Janaelen)

I would have to agree.. The master cylinder most likely has a seal gone bad. Do you notice the brakes working differently in different temperatures or if they work better or worse after driving the car for a while?
Yesterday it was around 80, but noticed that this all happened after I had been driving the car for awhile......

When it happened, the scenarion went like this.....

Brake pedal almost to the floor - release
Brake Pedal half way to the floor - release
Brake pedal normal travel distance......

Each time the brake pedal ended its travel distance, the calipers started to grab.........
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Old Jun 16, 2002 | 09:48 PM
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Default Re: Are the Brakes going out?????? [Help] (Husker Vette)

Yesterday it was around 80, but noticed that this all happened after I had been driving the car for awhile......

When it happened, the scenarion went like this.....

Brake pedal almost to the floor - release
Brake Pedal half way to the floor - release
Brake pedal normal travel distance......

Each time the brake pedal ended its travel distance, the calipers started to grab.........
When I had my '85 it started doing this. It progressively got to the point where I had to pump the brakes violently for it to even grab (I went to the store THAT day and picked up a master cylinder and it fixed the problem).

Replace your master cylinder before you have no brakes at all and something really bad happens!


[Modified by Janaelen, 7:49 PM 6/16/2002]
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Old Jun 16, 2002 | 09:59 PM
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Default Re: Are the Brakes going out?????? [Help] (Janaelen)

When the master is leaking it almost always slowly looses pressure when you try to hold the brakes, but may pump up. If it holds brake pressure with your foot on the pedal, for a long time; it may not be the master.

When was the last time the brake fluid was flushed completely?
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Old Jun 16, 2002 | 10:27 PM
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Default Re: Are the Brakes going out?????? [Help] (PeteL)

Yes, replace your master cylinder. As the fluid gets hot, the seals also soften and allow fluid to by pass the seals on the piston. Replace it and you will see the difference. And don't forget to bench bleed the master cylinder before you install it.

:cheers:
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Old Jun 16, 2002 | 10:27 PM
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Default Re: Are the Brakes going out?????? [Help] (PeteL)

When the master is leaking it almost always slowly looses pressure when you try to hold the brakes, but may pump up. If it holds brake pressure with your foot on the pedal, for a long time; it may not be the master.

When was the last time the brake fluid was flushed completely?
They have not been flushed in the past 1.5 years that I have owned the car.......


[Modified by Husker Vette, 8:28 PM 6/16/2002]
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Old Jun 16, 2002 | 10:36 PM
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Default Re: Are the Brakes going out?????? [Help] (Husker Vette)

You never answered the first question? Once pumped up, will the brakes hold for a long time? IE, with your foot still on the brake pedal once you get them all pumped up, can you hold the brakes for a for a long time or does the pedal go to the floor?

If it goes to the floor I'm thinking master as well. But if you can pump it up and it holds, I'm thinking you have air / nasty old fluid in the system. Brake fluid is good for about two years and that's all. However it will work fairly well for much longer, but it corrodes the system and causes all kinds of problems.
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Old Jun 16, 2002 | 10:41 PM
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Default Re: Are the Brakes going out?????? [Help] (PeteL)

I have not tested the brake system to see if it holds.... It appears to, but I have not tried it for extended periods of time.

I might give it a shot tomorrow, but I also need to pull the radiator and get that leak fixed......

the brakes might just follow the radiator, or the other way around.......

I will keep you updated.....
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Old Jun 17, 2002 | 10:52 AM
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Default Re: Are the Brakes going out?????? [Help] (Husker Vette)

I wouldn't elliminate air in the system yet. It's probably worth getting a good bleed on the system before you mess with the master cyllinder. Try to run a pint through the rears and 1/2 pint in the fronts. Before you start, you might bleed the lines on the master cyllinder.
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