Lost my brakes, while fixing them...
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: texas
Lost my brakes, while fixing them...
I was pulling a caliper off to push the pistons back in to the caliper and lubricating everything to free up sticking brakes. Now i lost my brakes. Before this trying to push the car in neutral was impossible because the brakes were still applying pressure to the rotor. Now that there is no pressure i can push the car with ease.
A little background on the car- 1988, and it has been sitting for the last 5 years or so. also my first corvette.
Anybody had this issue before or have any knowledge to what needs replacing so i dont have to replace 10 different things to fix this. or at least help me narrow it down.
so after little investigating i found no leaks. yet the brake pedal is mushy. but nothing happens until the pedal hits the floor. is the a master cylinder problem or a booster issue?
A little background on the car- 1988, and it has been sitting for the last 5 years or so. also my first corvette.
Anybody had this issue before or have any knowledge to what needs replacing so i dont have to replace 10 different things to fix this. or at least help me narrow it down.
so after little investigating i found no leaks. yet the brake pedal is mushy. but nothing happens until the pedal hits the floor. is the a master cylinder problem or a booster issue?
Last edited by Brett Long; Apr 6, 2019 at 11:41 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,451
Likes: 336
From: Greater Cincinnati Area.
When the calipers won't pull back, you are usually dealing with a bad caliper (corroded pistons) anyway. Replacement or rebuilding is required.
When the pedal is soft, you either have low pressure (worn out master, leaks, etc) or you have air in the brake system and since air is compressible, you hit the pedal and it feels "mushy"
Like Pwnage says, you can try bleeding it and see if that helps. It's the logical place to begin.
When the pedal is soft, you either have low pressure (worn out master, leaks, etc) or you have air in the brake system and since air is compressible, you hit the pedal and it feels "mushy"
Like Pwnage says, you can try bleeding it and see if that helps. It's the logical place to begin.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,024
Likes: 363
From: Central Alabama
JMO, A car that has been sitting for 5 years needs a complete brake rebuild. Master cylinder, all four calipers and a food flush of the lines. brakes sitting that long end up corroding and the rubber pieces have deteriorated and likely hardened in the position they were in.
It really is a safety issue.
I've done several what could be called rolling restorations, where you restore and drive teh car as you go. End to end brakes was always the first step.
It really is a safety issue.
I've done several what could be called rolling restorations, where you restore and drive teh car as you go. End to end brakes was always the first step.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: texas
i pulled the mater cylinder off. it appears the master was not resetting to its neutral position. that would explain why the brakes felt like they were still applied when no pressure was applied to the brake pedal. after i pushed the pistons back in to the caliper forcing brake fluid back in to the master it broke an internal seal or something of that nature.
i dont think the calipers them self's are the issue. because now im not experiencing any brake drag whatsoever.
so im replacing the master cylinder. and with time i will replace the calipers and rotors. along with wheel bearings and suspension components.
i dont think the calipers them self's are the issue. because now im not experiencing any brake drag whatsoever.
so im replacing the master cylinder. and with time i will replace the calipers and rotors. along with wheel bearings and suspension components.
Last edited by Brett Long; Apr 7, 2019 at 01:33 PM.
