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Topic: new brake light question

in Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling


new brake light question

Posted: 7/21/05 1:46pm Message 1 of 6
Former Member
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Nales, FL - USA
Joined: 6/5/2005
Posts: 57
Vette(s): 1978 Siver Anniversary Editon, L48, almost all original

After putting about 2000 miles on my 78 (it now has just over 56K), the brake light comes on.  Sure enough, the rear master cyl. compartment is low on fluid.  I notice fluid on the inside wall of the passenger rear tire.  Off to the parts store I go.

Now that the new remanufactured caliper is on and bled, I put it all together, and the damn brake light is still on.  I knew Murphy's Law was in FL this week! 

I pull the tire off again, and re-bleed it, then notice that I can't turn the rotors (car's in neutral, both rear wheels off the ground, and no parking brake on).  This brings a few questions:

  1. Shouldn't I be able to easily spin the rotors/wheels when both are off the ground, the transmission is in neutral, and the parking brake isn't on?  Is the parking brake too tight?
  2. Since I've bled the line of the caliper I replaced (no air in the line anymore), why would the brake light still be on?
  3. Can the brake light be tripped by a too-tight parking brake?



ride it...errr... drive it like you stole it!

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new brake light question

Posted: 7/21/05 3:10pm Message 2 of 6
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Frederick, MD - USA
Joined: 9/8/2003
Posts: 3398
Vette(s): 1969 convertible L71 427/435 4-speed black interior
Sounds like you should bleed all four brakes, though that may or may not be the cause of the brake light being on. You should be able to turn the tire/wheel assemblies by hand. Is it just the rear that won't turn or all four. If it's just the rear, that should tell you the parking brake is much too tightly adjusted.


new brake light question

Posted: 7/21/05 3:57pm Message 3 of 6
Former Member
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Nales, FL - USA
Joined: 6/5/2005
Posts: 57
Vette(s): 1978 Siver Anniversary Editon, L48, almost all original

Thanks Gunslinger,

The front wheels aren't off the ground, so I haven't checked them.  After some more poking around, I can move the rear rotors by hand, but it's very hard.  I also noticed (maybe I should of looked closer at first) that each caliper has a front and rear bleed screw.  Ran out of time to bleed the rear screws.  If I was to guess, there's probably a pocket of air in the rear section of the caliper, and that's got the light on.

Of course, as I'm looking for the adjustment screw to set the parking brake, I find a small spring behind the rotor floating around the parking brake shoes.  Since I wanted to make sure the new caliper was on securely, I now can't get it back off...lolololol.  But, it's time to go to work, so looks like my schedule for Friday has just been adjusted to fit in more brake work! 

Guess I'll have to find a way tomorrow to get the new caliper off and get into the parking brake shoes...




ride it...errr... drive it like you stole it!

new brake light question

Posted: 7/21/05 5:40pm Message 4 of 6
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SHELBYVILLE, TN - USA
Joined: 7/5/2002
Posts: 3942
Vette(s): 1976 L48 auto

1978 L82 4speed

1994 LT1 6speed
 have you check the brake light switch


StingrayJim
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new brake light question

Posted: 7/21/05 7:04pm Message 5 of 6
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20226
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Here's the link to a similar problem with the brake light staying on. Are you sure you haven't upset the voo-doo lady, too?!!

Brake light post here


Joel Adams
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new brake light question

Posted: 7/22/05 3:51pm Message 6 of 6
Former Member
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Nales, FL - USA
Joined: 6/5/2005
Posts: 57
Vette(s): 1978 Siver Anniversary Editon, L48, almost all original

Thanks for the ideas guys.

Turns out I was right - when I bled the front and back sections of the caliper, pumped the pedal a few times, and magic!  No brake light on!




ride it...errr... drive it like you stole it!

in Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling


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