Topic: Brakes!!!! no brakes
in Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling
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I know my rear bearings need to be replaced which can cause my rear brakes to pump air into the caliper. But shouldn't the front still work enough to get you home if you are careful?
Last night I had zero brakes and found out on the freeway!!! not alot of fun....
It has been a while since I had blead the front calipers so maybe they could have had air in them before the rear failed.
thanks for any help.
James

Last night I had zero brakes and found out on the freeway!!! not alot of fun....
It has been a while since I had blead the front calipers so maybe they could have had air in them before the rear failed.
thanks for any help.
James


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Grand Blanc, MI - USA
Joined: 8/7/2002
Posts: 544
Vette(s): 1979, 350sb, as my kids affectionately call it "shit brown" Corvette purchased in 1996. 84,000+ miles. Not a show car, but I love her just the same.
James:
Just saw a show on TV the other day talking about brakes. Do you have a double reservoir master cylinder or is it single? Thing is, if it's single and you have a leak in any of your hoses all of your brakes fail, but if you have dual reservoir one reservoir feeds front lines, one the back lines, that way if you spring a leak or break a fitting you don't lose all brakes. Not sure if this helps or not. Hope everything works out for you.
Brakes were shot on mine when I bought her, but didn't realize it until the first rainy day of driving her, going downhill at about 50MPH and having to slam on the brakes (NOT brakes) to avoid rearending a car making a left with oncoming traffic. Car on my right, cars coming at me on the left, and a car stopped dead in front of me...foot to the floor...nothing...THEN they grabbed!...360 degrees later sitting on the far right shoulder I was thanking the MAN and making it my PRIORITY to get new brakes!
Still remember the early 70's corvette I watched kiss a bridge abuttment when I was young, head on in almost the same situation. Fiberglass sprays like fireworks, and the driver rarely survives! Call me an old man (at the tender age of 38), but I'm always careful about the situations I put myself in when I'm driving the Vette now.

Just saw a show on TV the other day talking about brakes. Do you have a double reservoir master cylinder or is it single? Thing is, if it's single and you have a leak in any of your hoses all of your brakes fail, but if you have dual reservoir one reservoir feeds front lines, one the back lines, that way if you spring a leak or break a fitting you don't lose all brakes. Not sure if this helps or not. Hope everything works out for you.
Brakes were shot on mine when I bought her, but didn't realize it until the first rainy day of driving her, going downhill at about 50MPH and having to slam on the brakes (NOT brakes) to avoid rearending a car making a left with oncoming traffic. Car on my right, cars coming at me on the left, and a car stopped dead in front of me...foot to the floor...nothing...THEN they grabbed!...360 degrees later sitting on the far right shoulder I was thanking the MAN and making it my PRIORITY to get new brakes!
Still remember the early 70's corvette I watched kiss a bridge abuttment when I was young, head on in almost the same situation. Fiberglass sprays like fireworks, and the driver rarely survives! Call me an old man (at the tender age of 38), but I'm always careful about the situations I put myself in when I'm driving the Vette now.

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DOWNINGTOWN, PA - USA
Joined: 11/24/2001
Posts: 962
Vette(s): 1969 Monza Red Black Conv / Black Vinal hardtop
454/480 Tremec 5 Speed 308 Posi.Black Leather Interior, PS, PW, Air cond., tilt/tele,AM/FM Cass.-5 Pack CD, Hurst Shifter, side pipes
2004 Yellow convertible with black top and black interior
When I was having trouble with my brakes from "rotor runout", even though there was fluid in the system, my pedal went to the floor. The brakes worked if I down shifted through every gear and then used the clutch in first gear once or twice to get me slow enough. They also worked if I slammed them to the floor, but by doing that, the wheels locked up and that tends to draw a lot of unwanted attention.
Not sure if that matches your sympoms or not, but I was for sure getting air into the lines. I ended up needing rotors, calipers and pads on all four corners to pass PA inspection. Also had to replace the E-brakes. Big bucks but the car stops on a dime now.
Not sure if that matches your sympoms or not, but I was for sure getting air into the lines. I ended up needing rotors, calipers and pads on all four corners to pass PA inspection. Also had to replace the E-brakes. Big bucks but the car stops on a dime now.
Thanks for yalls help. The bearings are being rebuilt now and I am going to have the wheels and rotors checked to make sure one of them is not warped.
Well see, I am missing some good vette weather in Texas right now. I am getting resless.
james
Well see, I am missing some good vette weather in Texas right now. I am getting resless.
james
Hi
I had the same problem. One aft brake was sucking air.
The front brakes of my 68 never stopped working. The pedal became a bit more mushy, but never hit the floor. The brake warn light came on when braking hard.
Actually, the aft brakes became completely inop after a few hundred miles, but the fronts always worked.
Still no fun to drive.
I'm replacing the wheel bearings this winter and have also ordered a brake caliper O-ring piston kit.
This O-ring pistons do not suck air, even with worn bearings, I got promised.
Time will tell. Gunther

I had the same problem. One aft brake was sucking air.
The front brakes of my 68 never stopped working. The pedal became a bit more mushy, but never hit the floor. The brake warn light came on when braking hard.
Actually, the aft brakes became completely inop after a few hundred miles, but the fronts always worked.
Still no fun to drive.
I'm replacing the wheel bearings this winter and have also ordered a brake caliper O-ring piston kit.
This O-ring pistons do not suck air, even with worn bearings, I got promised.
Time will tell. Gunther

in Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling
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