Lost brakes today...
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 557
Likes: 0
Lost brakes today...
Yesterday wife and I was going to Menards and noticed the brakes felt a little spongy but would still stop fine but today while out and about I came to a stop light and the pedal went to the floor and one of the rears locked up. Brake light came on and now nothing. There was a Auto Zone about a mile away and was able to limp it there and once the master cylinder lid was removed the front resevoir was empty?? I filled it up with fluid and pumped it a few times until the pedal was somewhat firm and off to home I go. Now, this is where it gets screwy. I decided to re-bleed the brakes and nothing was wet underneath, no wheel cylinders, calipers were dry as well as the prop. valve. The back of the master cylinder was dry too??? After bleeding the brakes everything is now fine with excellent brake feel so my question is where did it go?? Could it possibly be leaking at the plunger and being sucked into the booster then into the engine?? It's a 79 sb 2wd.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
Any chance you have a small crack in one of the brake lines? If the leak were small, it would take some time for the loss to translate into a soft/no pedal. I had one once I bled and it felt great, but not for long. I eventually found a ruptured line. It seems like the type of loss you suggest at the master cylinder would be unlikely and more rapid.
Steve
Steve
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 14,333
Likes: 247
From: Stanley, VA
Pull your rear brake drums and check to (1) make sure everything is okay (2) that there are no leaks at the wheel cylinders and (3) the automatic adjusters are functioning.
When you reinstall the drums check the brake adjustment.
When you reinstall the drums check the brake adjustment.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,211
Likes: 1
exact thing I was thinking would be the next step
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,501
Likes: 5
From: Faibanks Ak.
Trending Topics
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
I second the cracked brake line theory. My rear brakes would initially feel great but would loose fluid over a few days with the pedal getting very soft. I could not find where the fluid was going so I took it to a mechanic. He eventually found that one of the hard lines on the rear axle was cracked where it was flared to go into the metal end of the flex hose that comes down from the frame. It was a very tight crack so the brakes would feel good until the fluid level dropped low. The crack was kind of hidden by the fitting on the line and there was never any signs of the fluid. I guess the road dirt and dust covered up any signs. The mechanic just cut the end of the metal line off to get rid of the crack and re-flared the line.
Sorry for the long story. Hope this helps some. Good Luck!
Sorry for the long story. Hope this helps some. Good Luck!
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
