Lost brake pressure temporarily?, where to start Options

[jeremiah98125]

So I took my 1.7 out on it's maiden voyage today and having some issues with the brakes.. They worked okay for the first 10 miles, good pressure at the pedal but didn't really slow the car down all that great. Then all of a sudden I totally lost pressure and had to pump them about 5 or 6 times to regain the pressure. Kind of scary here in the city.. So I headed home pumping the brakes a bunch before every stop. As I started pulling into the yard the pressure came back and the felt fine again. And sitting in the yard they feel okay again.. It kind of seemed like a hose burst or something but I don't see any fluid dripping on ground and the level in the master cylinder hasn't dropped any. Any idea what happened and how to fix em? The last service report which was 1,000 miles & 12 years ago said "free up calipers, replace pads, repack bearings". Also, manual says use "J1703" brake fluid, what is that? thanks!!

[dr914@autoatlanta.com]

this is an easy one. The flex lines are clogged or a caliper piston is sticking causing the brakes to stick and boil the fluid losing pressure. As soon as the fluid cools the pedal is back to normal. Could also be a sticking brake pedal but I am sure that you checked that. Master cylinder is probably ok, and certainly not causing the problem you are experiencing.