Hey...the brakes failed yesturday and I need some advice on what to look for. The master cylinder is totally empty and draining everytime I pump the brakes....can't see where it's draining from. Don't have my manuel of course....so please if you have any advice....please please send asap....i'm trying to get home tonight. Thanks a billion. Ginger
If it's draining on you, and you can't see the leak along the frame or the brake hoses, or a puddle of fluid easily, it's possible you may have a wheel cylinder leaking. Check the backside of each wheel for wetness. If you find one to be wet around the drum, more than likely thats where your problem is. Once you either find a replacement, or rebuild that one...bleed the brakes and you should be ready to roll. (if thats what it is) Good luck. Rat...
Possibilities; wheel cylinder. flexible hose. rusted out hard line under car. master cylinder leaking into power booster if it has one
ginger, can you move it to a place where there are NO previously existing stains/spills? parking lot? driveway? etc.? if you can then do so and pour more brake fluid in, pump the brakes a few times, and then crawl under the car and see where it's leaking from. it CAN'T disappear. it has to be going somewhere. the only places it can escape from the system are: 1. at the master cylinder, 2. a leak in one of the brake lines, or 3. from one of the wheel cylinders. leaking lines are very uncommon, but very easy to check. eliminate them first. if there's no puddle under the master cylinder then then you've eliminated the master cylinder. if neither of the above happen and there's no fluid running out of one of the brake drums or out of a brake caliper, then you need to jack the car up and take the wheels/drums off to see which one is leaking. if any of your brakes are disks start with them, as you only have to remove the wheel to see the caliper. then check out any drums. i'm assuming that you know how to remove the drums, but if you don't just ask. we can guide you through that, too. this is more time consuming than it is hard work. after you've found what is leaking come back and maybe we can help you fix it.
im thinking its the wheel cylinder....I just replaced the master cylinder not too long ago....so im sure its not that. Ill have to get under the car and really inpect the lines cause I cant see any fluid...its pissing out rain...yay. Thanks for the replies....super appreciate it.
damn, we probably all started typing at the same time, but two of you finished before me. if i didn't have to be so verbose maybe mine would have been the first up.
Do not feel bad Atch. Finally, a question I could answer, and you all beat me to it. Good luck, Binger.
look for the most common first but don't overlook the unusual either, like DrJ said even the power booster (if ya got one) you could be sucking fluid through a vacuum line, where in Seattle are you?
It's the wheel cylinder....so i'm on my way to get this at a shop...woo hoo. I'm in Mountlake Terrace today. And for anyone that doesn't believe that a chick can't work on her 59 Pontiac, i'll post a pic later...hehehe
if you cant get parts to fix there. clamp the rubber line with some vicegrips and blead the other three.or you can put a small nail in the end of the hard line and tighten it to plug it also. its got me home
If they were working fine then all of a sudden nothing i'd check the rubber hoses at the front "first "and also the one at the back.also if you're car has manual brakes the master cylinder could be leaking down the inside of the firewall and onto the floors(happened on my 56)had to peel back the carpet to tell and it looked fine from the engine side!If there's anything else i can do let me know!
Alrighty....I actually made it home ok!! I was able to change the wheel cylinder with only minor busted knuckles from the brake springs. But all in all....everything went smooth. Thanks everybody for your fast sugestions and input...it really helped.
Glad to see you made it home safe and sound. I don't know about the rest of the guys here but I find that you up under that beast changing a wheel cylinder WWWAAAYYYY sexier than your tattoo pics! You tats were fine but a chick working on her car is really hot! I guess I'm a perv that way!
Don't mean to be crude, but there appears to be some kind of leak around your behind. Your Levis are shot. And a suggestion, please replace all your wheel cylinders and your flex hoses whilst you're at it. It's pretty much a guarantee that the rest of those components are sure to fail soon.
Eh girl,good to see you made it.I would have had ol'beet fix it myself while I drank all of his beer! .........Shiny
[ QUOTE ] Don't mean to be crude, but there appears to be some kind of leak around your behind. Your Levis are shot. Hehehehe....thanks for noticing. That's what working in the rain, grease, and dirt will do. But it was kinda fun.
next time yer workin on yer car, call me and i will get ya some coveralls and a pair of depends, eh mrs fuckburger
Badpat,didn't know you knew what coveralls were.I know bout your fetish with wearin depends though. ........Shiny
That does something to a mans imagination! i'd be happy to pull up a chair & watch. Do you have any pics of the dirty hands!
eh shiny, glad to see you have time to spend on the computer, i guess it means you have finished all your customers cars???
The Jalopy Journal
