88 Coupe Brake Problem
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: Midland Texas
88 Coupe Brake Problem
Was driving along and the engine started overheating, then the brake light came on and the pedal was as hard as a rock. I pulled over, opened the hood, smoking and smelled like brakes. I let the vehicle cool, restarted, brake light on, in gear, brakes locked down. I let the vehicle set overnight, restarted the next morning and drove it to my shop. No more brake light, never an ABS light, fluid levels good, everybody turns freely. Any ideas???
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: umea ac
Re: 88 Coupe Brake Problem (autotech)
Did you see any hard pedal force due to this ?? Mine 87 just went bad with hard pedal in ..like 1 month ..dayly driven.
i suspect the brake booster going bad. I had no lite indication what ever!
i suspect the brake booster going bad. I had no lite indication what ever!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: Midland Texas
Re: 88 Coupe Brake Problem (polaris10)
I am leaning toward the exhaust just below the left exhaust manafold is about 3 to 4" away from the brake lines. It is possible expansion of the brake fluid will add pressure to the brakes and cause a hard pedal. I just now gutted my converter in this battle for a little cooler running and am probably going to insulate my brake lines near the exhaust...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: Midland Texas
Re: 88 Coupe Brake Problem (autotech)
I take the expansion theory back, it is possible, but the master cylinder pushrod would have to be adjusted wrong for this to happen. With a properly adjusted master cylinder, fluid expansion or contraction would be absorbed within the resovoir...
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Re: 88 Coupe Brake Problem (autotech)
:cheers: I guess I would start with why engine overheated! Brakes didn't cause engine overheat, but...overheat could...maybe..cause brake problem!
Hard pedal is almost always brake booster/vacuum question. Doesn't mean booster is always bad, a loss of vacuum to the booster can cause hard pedal
:seeya
Hard pedal is almost always brake booster/vacuum question. Doesn't mean booster is always bad, a loss of vacuum to the booster can cause hard pedal
:seeya
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: Glendale Az
Re: 88 Coupe Brake Problem (autotech)
Seen it before. Ended up being a bad master cylinder. Locked up and would not release pressure. Engine overheated because you were trying to drive with the brakes on. I would also check the condition of the trans fluid. Probably burnt, running against the brakes will kill a torque converter. Good luck. :chevy
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