Brakes Fail!!!!!Help!!!!
March 30th, 2010, 08:24 AM
#1
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Jacksonville,Fl
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Brakes Fail!!!!!Help!!!!
Why is my brake pedal going all da way to the floor.....sorry im not mechanic but i wanna learn to fix the problems on this cutlass my self....i havent switched out to disc brakes yet.i will next project...the brake pedal goes straight to the floor no stoppin what so eva...just got a brand new 350 tranny rebuilt and can really try out the new tranny without stopping with the emergency brakes lol..any ideal whats the problem????
March 30th, 2010, 09:04 AM
#3
1972 98 & 1984 H/O
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Hoffman Estates, IL
Posts: 247
Start by looking to see if there is brake fluid in the reservoir…if it is low or empty, look for leaks in brake system…maybe the rear brake cylinders blew when you did some power braking burnouts.
March 30th, 2010, 11:16 AM
#8
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Location: Rathdrum, Idano
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X2 on this, if the reservoir is low or empty don't just fill it and think your ok the fluid went somewhere. check for brake fluid by each wheel where the brake cylinders are also check hoses remember unless someones has changed them they are 38 years old. There a 5-hoses, one at each wheel cylinder and one from the frame to the rear end splitter fitting. Shoud be replaced if they are original.
March 30th, 2010, 04:26 PM
#9
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 2
fluid
don't forget fluid quality. brake fluid over time will aerate thus turning to water. water is compressible which is bad when it comes to brake fluid which is not compressible. that is how wheel cylinder and callipers are able to apply pressure to liners. previous poster was right. check for fluid leaks at wheels. i would check for leaks, then replace fluid and bleed brakes as well as master cylinder. you can bench bleed master cylinder to remove leaks there too. also bleeder valves that have gone bad can allow air in the system allowing the pedal to go to the floor with no stopping as well as let fluid leak out. also fliud can actually burn if highspeed and braking combinations are normal reducing its effectiveness A LOT!!! seen it a couple of times. 
March 30th, 2010, 05:32 PM
#10
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 356
I once had a car seviced and the mechanic pulled the damn brake booster hose off and did not put it back on , I almost got t-boned when my brake pedal went to the floor when rolling into a 55 mph highway.
It is always worth the look
It is always worth the look
March 30th, 2010, 06:07 PM
#11
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Eastern Kentucky
Posts: 46
How many people have learned the importance of pumping the brakes real good before moving the vehicle after a brake job? Try driving down the driveway and into traffic backwards sometime while you're pumping that pedal like a madman.
April 9th, 2010, 11:51 AM
#12
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Jacksonville,Fl
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okay i replaced the brake hoses one hose had kept on blowing off so i replaced all of them.....the guy at the transmission shop said the brake cylinders are rusted to bad and the front wont bleed...so my question is should i just buy another master cylinders and brake cylinders?????
April 9th, 2010, 12:10 PM
#13
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Location: Plano, TX
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If they are more than 8 years old, or age unknown, I might go ahead and just replace them. Parts are fair priced. Stopping quickly can save your life and your car, so the cost would be well worth it.
Good choice on replacing the hoses.
Good choice on replacing the hoses.
April 9th, 2010, 12:11 PM
#14
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Location: Emmen Drenthe (Netherlands)
Posts: 586
check it selve, if they are rusted you have 2 options.
clean them and look to the condition of the rubber seal.
if they could be refixt.
2 bad or to broken, buy new ones.
But you can clean and fix them many times, also bleaders are sepperate so you could chains them.
And depends if you like to get messy with brakefluid, or look for the easy way and buy new one's
former hobby was driving 4x4 and had to clean them werry often, sand/water rust
clean them and look to the condition of the rubber seal.
if they could be refixt.
2 bad or to broken, buy new ones.
But you can clean and fix them many times, also bleaders are sepperate so you could chains them.
And depends if you like to get messy with brakefluid, or look for the easy way and buy new one's
former hobby was driving 4x4 and had to clean them werry often, sand/water rust
April 9th, 2010, 12:20 PM
#15
1972 98 & 1984 H/O
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Hoffman Estates, IL
Posts: 247
Sounds like you have drums all the way around. Brakes are important!
One thing will lead to another...if you change the cyliders, you will probably want to change the brake shoes (and spring kit)...if you change the brake shoes, you will probably have to replace the drums (if they cannot be turned).
Do you know if the master cylinder is bad? sounds like the loss of fluid was from the brake hose that kept blowing off.
One thing will lead to another...if you change the cyliders, you will probably want to change the brake shoes (and spring kit)...if you change the brake shoes, you will probably have to replace the drums (if they cannot be turned).
Do you know if the master cylinder is bad? sounds like the loss of fluid was from the brake hose that kept blowing off.
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