As far as you comment on brake fluid color - they may be the same color, but what you are seeing is corrosion products (rust or degraded rubber). when I first got my car and cleaned out the lines only one looked like brake fluid - the others were all shades of dark stuff. Due to the "stuff" floating in the fluid, they will give the appearance of separate fluids when put into same container.  I do not use DOT 5, as it cannot be mixed with other fluids.  I have a number of different cars that I use in track trials and autocross competition and Valvoline SynPower DOT 4 fluid works great, is cheap and you can afford to pump a lot of it through the system to flush it out.  It is also a good alternative to DOT 5 due to its temperature ratings.

 

Hate to say it, but if you are seeing a lot of dark fluid, it probably means internal corrosion of the caliper bores and that requires replacement - or a quality rebuild (hard to do at home).

 

Corvette Brake Caliper Speed Bleeders, 

 

Concerning the fluids color, I think the previous owner simply used a different kind because when looking into the master cylinder, I could see the difference.  It became clear when both oil were in the same bucket.

 

From a simple math perspective (including labor and possible problems), I agree that swaping with rebuilt is the way to go.  But; one of the reason I bought the Vette is to learn stuff.  They say "pick your battles".  I tend to take them all and "afford" defeat if I'm over my head.

 

That being said; as you guys mentioned, I'm taking the same route you took sometimes ago.  I'm in too deep now to do a change of course.

 

I'm not even half-way done and I got too many pictures to upload here, but you can take a look here and see my progress.

 

I only cleaned one tonight; ran out of brake cleaner (which is a good thing, because poor ventilation made me a little dizzy).

 

I forgot... I already have the SS sleeves on 'em!

 

sgm2004

 

17 years?  My goal was 10 (after 3, I'm really not on track), so 17 sounds just about right.  I'm keeping paint for the end.

 

My goal this year is to get it back on the road (safely) one time before the summer is over and if the budget goes my way; suspension over the winter.

 

Back to the calipers; I got some more cleaner tonight and ordering parts right now.  I'll keep you posted when I'm back to the assembly; if I could only get those rotors out....

2. Installed and used the DOT 4 Valvoline SynPower fluid (synthetic).  Rotors looked great (I usually change pads at 1/2 thickness) so stayed with them.

3. After a lot of bleeding, I put it all back together (now I wish I had bought the speedbleeders - would have been much easier).

4. Took it for a ride - I live way out in the country, so no traffic.  Did a few stops to bed in the pads and then took it up for a higher speed stop.  When I jumped on the brakes there wasn't much there!  Pedal was firm but no stopping power. 

5. Now - I was upset that I spent a lot of money and time and it wasn't what I expected, so I tried one more quick stop......Dang thing locked up all 4 and it came to a SMOKING Nascar type stop...Fun! 

6. Turns out after a little experimentation that it stopped great if you were not accelerating immediately before jumping on the brakes.....Ta-DA!  9 bucks later at the local NAPA, I had a new power booster vacuum check valve and that solved that problem!  Turns out the other one was simply old and brittle and worked intermittently.

 

Anyways - on cars that are of this age, it would be worth changing that cheap little part out since it can make a huge difference in stopping power.  Don't bother going to Advance or Auto Zone - neither carries it (I guess the don't think they fail), but NAPA had it on the shelf.

 

BTW - C3VR and the folks who share their experiences really make this forum a valuable part of my Corvette Toolbox!

 

 

I keep on searching the forums here for stuff like you wrote.  Thanks again!

 

I can't wait to be at step #4 "Took it for a ride..."

 

 

 

sgm2004