My 53 f100 has been sitting a while because it has a starter issue. I finally got it started and was going to drive it to go fill up the tires. I noticed the brake pedal felt spongy. I checked the fluid and it was completely empty. It has been cold here in the mid west but I dont think that should have caused the fluid to drain out. I have not had any signs of any leaks or other issues when I was driving it daily. Any suggestions?

 

I've had this happen on other vehicles after setting. I'm not sure where it goes.
I say refill the master cylinder and see what happens. You can do a quickie cheat style bleed on it by leaving the lid to the master cylinder lid off and slowly working the brake pedal. Occasionaly working it several short strokes in the middle of the full stroke. Go slow on the pumping or it will spray brake juice all over the place. Alot of time you can work alot of air back out of the system this way without having to do a formal brake bleed.


In one sytem I tore apart (on an old motorcylce) the wheel cylinders were filled with a whitish paraffin type substance. I cleaned it all up, filled it with juice and had it working just fine.

Good luck
Bobby

 

Check under the master cylinder and the back of each wheel, line connections for dried brake fluid. Maybe some of those good ole Chinese rubber seals bypassing fluid. chuck

 

What kind of brake fluid do you use and have you done any brake work in the last year or so? Thanks.

 

The fluid goes to the same place the socks go when you put them in the dryer.

Check below the master cylinder and also back around any "T"s you may have.

 

For it to drain out, it would have to be leaking at a wheel cylinder, or right at the M/C connections, right? Everything else is above the M/C.

 

Old F1.... I am using the nomal DOT brake fluid and no I have not done any brake work on it. Suppose to warm up this weekend hopefully the snow will be gone and ground will be dried enough I get crawl under and check things out.

 

Shoot, I'd just fill it up, bleed out the brakes real good and carefully see if they work ok. Now that you are suspicious, you can check the fluid level daily, and look for drips or sweats.

 

Ditto to what Jules said

 

The reason for asking is that almost every old vehicle I have drug home the master cylinders have been empty. Not everyone would have had leaked dry without being used unless by some siphon effect.

We know that brake fluid is hygroscopic and absorbs moisture from the air and that the moisture must go into solution or it would freeze in the winter time. The “experts” say that static brake fluid can not evaporate but I wonder if a vehicle sits for a long time and the fluid is exposed to the air it becomes dilute to the point where it will evaporate at least the water content.

I think Julie is right, it must go the same place as the socks in the dryer do.

 

On all three of my F-100 in the summer months especially August our hottest month of the year usually I add dot 3 every month from a May to September. Not a lot maybe a long shot glass Texas style. Only twice and both times it was a rubber brake line that had brake fluid on it. Never did a brake bleed,just preload plastic cap the line and install it. AJ. Just thought of something I was installing a new master cylinder in my 54 that was the first F-100 I bought. I drove it from 1974 to 1985. Worked at an Airport and the Snap on tool guy wanted to sell me a brake bleeder. YepI bought it, and it’s still in the plastic case. Used it maybe twice, for ten years I paid Snapon $50.00 a week. But learned lots of handy issues. One was fill the resistor leave the cap off and lightly tap the brake pedal. You will see small bubbles in the fluid. Let it set over nite. Replace the cap in our case it’s a round cap. You should have brakes!AJ