Brakes pedal is very low! help

Corvette Forums Corvette Classifieds Gallery Corvette News Member List Search Sponsors
Forum FAQ Calendars Contact Us Corvette Recalls TSBs Corvette Timeslips Register Login

Brakes pedal is very low! help

Printable Version

Corvette >> Corvette Models >> Corvette C3 Forum >> Brakes pedal is very low! help

Page: [1] 2 3 next > >>

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

Brakes pedal is very low! help - 9/1/2008 3:01:11 PM

aob1958

Posts: 10
Joined: 9/1/2008
Status: offline

I bought a 1977 corvette last week! my concerns is with the brake pedal is very low. I dont see any fluid leakage on wheels. Where do I start, the booster hold pressure, the master cylinder? everything is original equipment. The disc brakes pads are realtively new, and I dont see any broken hoses or leaks.

Post #: 1

RE: Brakes pedal is very low! help - 9/1/2008 6:54:48 PM

wrwalke

Posts: 392
Joined: 11/1/2005
Status: online

By very low, I presume that you mean "soft", going too far to the floor without "sticking" the brakes? If so, you might have a bit of air in the hydraulic lines. Bleeding out the air is pretty simple. One guy pumps the brakes, the other guy backs out the bleed valve a bit and holds a container to catch the fluid until the air bubbles are out (once each wheel).

There are some good kits for one-man bleeding, including some fancy bleed valves and catch containers. :)

bill.

(in reply to aob1958)

Post #: 2

RE: Brakes pedal is very low! help - 9/1/2008 8:15:23 PM

Posts: 1066
Joined: 8/7/2006
Status: offline

Hi abo1958 and welcome to the forum. It took me a long time to get used to the short pedal travel on the Vette compared to the brakes on my import. I did find out that they will lock up just fine when an oncoming driver made a left in front of me. PG

_____________________________

my Vettes birthday, May 1, 1974

(in reply to wrwalke)

Post #: 3

RE: Brakes pedal is very low! help - 9/1/2008 9:26:25 PM

Texas Jim

Posts: 451
Joined: 12/15/2005
Status: offline

A low pedal could be air, but it would be spongy too. I had master cylinders starting to go which made the pedal low. Seals let the fluid leak by. Yes, as other reply stated, bleed first, and then go from there.

(in reply to pg)

Post #: 4

RE: Brakes pedal is very low! help - 9/2/2008 8:34:50 AM

aob1958

Posts: 10
Joined: 9/1/2008
Status: offline

Thanks to ALL. I meant very soft, and all the way to the floor!!! the car does stops but.... I will start by bleeding the system, if problem still there... I''ll rebuild/buy the master cylinder, unless someone suggest differently. I''m very inexperience with this type of car but I like the look and feel.

(in reply to Texas Jim)

Post #: 5

RE: Brakes pedal is very low! help - 9/2/2008 3:22:25 PM

SCHOON

Posts: 344
Joined: 9/8/2006
Status: offline

If you are not sure take it to someone that does brakes.
You screw up and you not only hurt yourself but could mess someone else up as well.

(in reply to aob1958)

Post #: 6

RE: Brakes pedal is very low! help - 9/2/2008 3:46:11 PM

aob1958

Posts: 10
Joined: 9/1/2008
Status: offline

thanks for the advice, I would not want to hurt me or anyone else. I''m trying to get as much knowledge as posible then I''ll take it to the brake shop so I do not get tricked into a massive and expensive brake job.

(in reply to SCHOON)

Post #: 7

RE: Brakes pedal is very low! help - 9/2/2008 6:02:34 PM

SCHOON

Posts: 344
Joined: 9/8/2006
Status: offline

There are a lot of things you can do yourself to improve or repair your Vet.
Asking questions and reading are the best way to go.
Brakes and steering can get you into a lot of trouble.
If I were you I would get a written estimate for the repair on brakes from a couple of places before I got the work done. This way you can compare to see if you are getting ripped off.
Also, find some guys in your town who own Vets and ask them where they go.
Good luck,
Schoon

(in reply to aob1958)

Post #: 8

RE: Brakes pedal is very low! help - 9/2/2008 7:55:20 PM

Posts: 1066
Joined: 8/7/2006
Status: offline

The brakes on our Vette''s can be repaied with some basic hand tools and with the help from other corvette forums members.
A good book to start with is the Haynes Repair Manual, you can get it at any auto parts store.
Other books you''ll want to have are
Corvette Shop Manual
Service Manual and
Corvette Assembly Manual, put these on you Christmas wish list.
The net is loaded with free information, scroll down to part 12 & 13 on this link http://www.idavette.net/hib/vette_bbfh.htm this should get you started, PG.

_____________________________

my Vettes birthday, May 1, 1974

(in reply to SCHOON)

Post #: 9

RE: Brakes pedal is very low! help - 9/2/2008 8:38:51 PM

Rich G.

Posts: 109
Joined: 1/12/2007
Status: offline

The master cylinder is very easy to change. Just be sure you bench bleed it completly before you put it back on or you will be bleeding the system forever!

(in reply to pg)

Post #: 10