So, on Friday evening, the wife and I decide to go the hamburger joint for a cruise night and a bite to eat. We jump in the Comick, I crank it up and step on the brake to back it out of the garage. But instead of getting a nice hard pedal, my foot sinks to the floor. I pump the pedal half a dozen times and still nothing. Needless to say we left that car where it was and took her Mustang instead. I'll grab a reman master cylinder tomorrow on my way home from work but, but my question is, what makes these things go bad all of a sudden? I drive the car leass than 1000 miles a year. I've never had one apart so I don't even know what makes it tick. Can any brake experts shed some light on this?
im not sure i had a escort about 4 years ago do that...pulled out the driveway went to hit the brakes and to the floor it went....needless to say i had to turn around and go home, thank god for a hand e-brake, i have no idea what happen to it , just bought another one and slapped it on
Sorry, Sam. All I can do is jump on the "me too" wagon. Scared hell outta me. Thing is, I filled the MC back up, re-bled my brakes and everything is back to normal (well, as 'normal' as drum brakes get). I wonder if certain brands of brake fluids attack the seals over time? (that wouldn't explain MY anomaly, but it might yours )
Being the expert I am They go bad for a varity of reasons. First remans are just that old worn out parts made to be new. Realize some guy working for 1.00 an hour in another country re-manned it. He could care less if it works long term...... Get a new one or PM me for an alternative I am working on:evilsmile (that offer is for sam only) The seal goes bad as a result of the following. Water build up resulting in corrison. Brake fluid absorbs water. It should be changed every couple of years to prevent this. Also some people make the mistake of pumping the pedal to the floor while bleeding brakes. Half pumps please!!! Why? The cylinder gets used to traveling in a certain area and gets a wear pattern. Pedal hits the floor during a routine bleed and next thing you know seal goes bad. Lastly avoid pushing the caliper pistons back without first line clamping the rubber hose, then opening the bleeder. It keeps all the junk build up from reaching the master cylinder.
yeah or so ive herd dot 5 can with stand higher temps, but HARD on seals in older cars, like pre 2000 , dot 3 is all you should need
Likely cause is the seal is leaking on your master at the back side. Pull the rubber boot back and have a looksie. SOmetimes the cylinder will bypass with no visable leaks. If this happens I recommend replacing the unit just to be safe. Fliuds shouldn't matter as long as it is brake fluid and you do not mix don't 3 and 5.
The brakes on my '74 Grabber totally went out once, and the emergency brake did not work. That was a fun 5 miles home with NO brakes what so ever! Needless to say, the emergency brake was promptly fixed! Ohh the memories in that car... Some of the best moments of my life and some of the most down right terrifying!
I think that many are just not rebuilt very well. Also; are you sure it's the M/C and not a wheel cylinder or caliper leaking?...
I whole-heartedly agree...don't waste your time(and maybe your life)on a used/rebuilt one! Never had any luck at all with anything but new..but then again if I didn't have bad luck I would'nt have any luck at all!
I change my brake fluid twice a year. A quick and inexpensive method is ...I have a used pump from a spray bottle(windex,409,armour-all,etc). I pump out all the dirty fluid in the reservoir then refill with fresh fluid,reinstall the cap and you are done. Some may say that that method is not good enough.....I then say "You do it your way and I'll do it my way"....True,there is still some dirty fluid still in the system. Just change your fluid more often.
I've never changed fluid and never had a problem. I've always lived in humid climates. Brake fluid may very well absorb moisture but is a sealed system.
BTW dot 3 and 4 absorb moisture. Dot 5 does not. It puddles up typically at the highest point in the master cylinder. Given all things being perfect and the seal on the cap never looses it's ability to seal. You might never have a problem.
Thanks for all the responses... I'll try to find a new one if they're still available. See, that's the thing... there is no leakage or loss of fluid from the resevoir, so I am at a loss for any other culprit besides the m/c.
