Brake Compression Sporadic / Gone ..

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Nov 9, 2012 | 05:23 PM

oldfords4me

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Sep 2011

Posts: 11

Likes: 0

Brake Compression Sporadic / Gone ..

hey all ...

My 76 F 100 power brakes seem to be having some issues. If i pump the brake a lot, the compression comes back for a second or two, but that's about it. Have to press it all the way down to the floor now. Can't seem to locate a leak and the fluid level seems to stay consistent.

1. Bad/leaky hose somewhere?
2. Bad MC? Bad Booster?

So, not sure what i should do at this point. Any assistance/opinions would be appreciated. Thank you All!

Nov 9, 2012 | 05:46 PM

mikeo0o0o0

Hotshot

Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 14,333

Likes: 247

From: Stanley, VA

If you're not losing fluid then you don't have a leak. In all probability it's going to be a bad master cylinder but the first thing I would do is check the adjustment on the rear shoes.

Nov 9, 2012 | 08:39 PM

oldfords4me

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Sep 2011

Posts: 11

Likes: 0

Thank you. I have a little fluid loss maybe, after looking at it today, but its just not that much ... What do i check 'adjustment' wise? They are drum brakes ..

if it is the MC .. is there a way that I can tell that it is that?

Thanks again!

Nov 9, 2012 | 08:51 PM

devino246

Post Fiend

Joined: Mar 2011

Posts: 8,501

Likes: 4

From: Lynchburg, VA

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldfords4me

Pull the wheels off and spin the drums. Properly adjusted, you'll hear a very faint scraping sound as the shoes lightly rub the drums. If you don't hear this (and you probably won't), pull the drums off and turn the starwheel a few clicks. Put the drums back on, check for light dragging. If they're lightly dragging now, you're all done. If not, continue adjustment until they are.

"starwheel" is the thing near the middle of this picture that has little teeth on it.

However, if you have any fluid loss, you're sucking air into the system when you let off the brake pedal. Fix the leak first, and bleed the brakes. When it comes to brakes, no leak is acceptable.