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HELP 78 Brakes

  • Thread starter Thread starter wrenchtrnr
  • Start date Start date
W

wrenchtrnr

Guest
I have a 78 vette that has brake problems. When the car is off the brake pedal is good but when it is on the pedal goes to the floor. I have new calipers. The rotors are good. I have bled the brakes many times. But it is still doing it. I also have a new porportioner valve. Please help.:confused :hb
 
Assuming you don't see any brake fluid leaks anywhere, if the pedal goes to the floor, you have a master cylinder problem. Have you done any work on the master cylinder, booster, or the booster rod connection to the pedal?
:beer
 
JOHN, is the booster rod to the pedal adjustable?

robin
 
been there done that i went thru 16 yes 16 calipers befor ei got a set that didnt leak air if you get air from the bleeders you have a bad caliper if not it is most likely a master cylinder problem
:w
 
New master cylinder. I have bled and bled them. I saw a posting about this and it said to jack the rear up and let it sit then bleed them so that is what I am trying to do now. I am just waiting.
 
One other thing that you may want to do. If you didn' have this problem, before you replaced the proportioning valve, you may want to bench beed the master cylinder. If the master cylinder internal chambers, not the reservoirs, had air introduced. The only way to get it (air) out is to bench bleed the master cylinder. This can be done one the vehicle if you have the bench bleeder hose kit that comes with a master cylinder when you buy one. It's called "bench bleeding" because you typically do it before you install it when new. It can be done buy disconnecting the brake lines at the master cylinder and connecting the hose kit to the master cylinder. the other ends of the hose kit goes into the reservoir. Keeping the fluid level full, very gently depress the brake pedal until there is no more air coming out of the hoses into the reservoir. Press the brake pedal quickly and you will have a brake fluid mess all over the place. Paint does not like brake fluid, unless you want to remove it. Best of luck in finding the trouble and remember this is fun.
 
robin74 said:
JOHN, is the booster rod to the pedal adjustable?

robin

Yes, it is, on both manual and power brakes; it has an adjustable clevis and jam nut at the pedal connection. The free play adjustment there is very important. On a manual, the free play (1/16"-1/4") ensures that there is no pressure on the master cylinder piston, which would move it forward and cover up the fluid supply ports (called the compensating ports) from the master cylinder bore to the reservoirs. With power brakes, it ensures that there is no pressure on the power valve at the inside of the booster, which can both cover the ports AND apply light brake fluid pressure to the calipers all the time, frying the pads. Unless you have free play in the pedal and have bench-bled the master cylinder, you'll NEVER get the brakes bled.
:beer
 
JOHN, thank you ,again. always enjoy your answers.

robin

p.s wrench....what part of florida are you in?
 

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