No brakes!, Brake pedal went to the floor Options

[mburkhart]

So I was out for a cruise around the neighborhood the other day and things were going great until the brake pedal went to the floor. I was able to pump it a few times and restore pressure and crawled home in a low gear. Each time I used the brakes the pedal would go to the floor until I pumped it a few times. Scary!

Once home I looked under the car and inspected the soft lines at each caliper but they looked fine and no leaks. The brake fluid reservoir is still full. I'm not sure where the problem is.

What should I be looking for?

[mepstein]

Master cylinder

Look for fluid under the pedal assembly in the car.

[DRPHIL914]

Master cylinder

Look for fluid under the pedal assembly in the car.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) if no leaks at the MC underneath, look under pedals, this just happened to me this year but the last one i had fail i could get some pressure like you did after a few pumps of the pedal but will not maintain pressure, if that is the case you may not have any leaking but just failed seal internally and you still are in need for a new one.

one of my least favorite jobs to do

Phil

[mburkhart]

I haven't had time to lift the car up to be able to easily see what's going on with the master cylinder yet, but I'll check that next.

I did find a really nice youtube video from a member who installed the 19mm master cylinder upgrade from 914rubber. Unfortunately it looks like the "easy install" version isn't available right now.

Replacing the master cylinder looked fairly straightforward, what makes it your least favorite job?

[DRPHIL914]

I haven't had time to lift the car up to be able to easily see what's going on with the master cylinder yet, but I'll check that next.

I did find a really nice youtube video from a member who installed the 19mm master cylinder upgrade from 914rubber. Unfortunately it looks like the "easy install" version isn't available right now.

Replacing the master cylinder looked fairly straightforward, what makes it your least favorite job?

laying on my back with no lift just on jack stands trying get the freaking line pushed into place and to seat- not much room to work, sometimes it goes easy- the last one i did the “easy” install one from 914rubber. still took all day to pull out old one install and bleed lines, etc. i don’t have a power bleeder,
pro tip- loosen the reservoir and attach the lines at the mc before bolting it in tight and also bench bleed the mc will help too.
don’t forget the washer it’s traditional hose attachment will leak without those washers, i found that out the hard way too