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New Problem - Brakes not working! Please help

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BrandonBJ8

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After installing the generator and making sure everything was okay, I backed the car out of the driveway for the first time in a couple of months (October or so). As I was backing out, I pushed the brake pedal and nothing happened! The entire brake system was completely replaced last year when we "woke" the car up. Any idea what could be wrong?

Thanks,
-Brandon
 
[ QUOTE ]
After installing the generator and making sure everything was okay, I backed the car out of the driveway for the first time in a couple of months (October or so). As I was backing out, I pushed the brake pedal and nothing happened! The entire brake system was completely replaced last year when we "woke" the car up. Any idea what could be wrong?

Thanks,
-Brandon

[/ QUOTE ]

Brandon--

Did the pedal go to the floor? Is there brake fluid in the reservoir? If not, is there a puddle under the car or a leak at any one of the wheels? Does the handbrake work?

Looks like it just ain't yer day!
 
brandon,did the pedal go to the floor with no resistance?did the pedal feel o.k. but no brakes?brake fluid on floor?answering these questions will be very helpful in determaning the problem.you might just have to rebuild the brake master cyl.parts are available. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif
 
michael oritt,i just looked at the time signiture to our responses,ya beat my by 2 min.sorry i dindt mean to sound redundant. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
 
Michael,

To answer your questions:
1. The pedal did go all the way to the floor.
2. I just checked the reservoir, and it is extremely low.
3. There is no puddle under the wheels. However, there are a few drops of oil here and there, but none of them are too large.
4. The handbrake does work.

Thanks!
 
brandonbj8,now check to see if the carpet just under were the clutch linkage goes through the firewall is wet with brake fluid,or around the firewall under bonette, this sounds like the classic mast.cyl.rebuild.lots on this in the archives! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif
 
I checked and couldn't find any traces of fluid under the pedals or anywhere around the firewall. I also checked the wheels to see if it was leaking there and couldn't find any. I called the mechanic back in Oklahoma who did a lot of the work on the car and he suspects it's a leak somewhere. I just have no idea where and how to find it. Any suggestions?
 
If you are not sure which fluid was used ask him if it had dot 3 dot 4 or synthetic fluid and top it back with the same kind. Then pump it up and maybe you can find the leak. I would suspect the master cyl. Bob
 
He used Castrol Girling Brake Fluid. I have attached a few more pictures that I just took when the car was moved into the driveway. You can see that there are two different oil leaks. One under the transmission(I think) is a little larger. The other one is near the front right wheel; possibly under the brake fluid reservoir. Do these look like they could be the brake leak?
 

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[ QUOTE ]
Michael,

To answer your questions:
1. The pedal did go all the way to the floor.
2. I just checked the reservoir, and it is extremely low.
3. There is no puddle under the wheels. However, there are a few drops of oil here and there, but none of them are too large.
4. The handbrake does work.

Thanks!

[/ QUOTE ]

Brandon--

I can't tell from the pictures to where the leak would correspond but the puddle doesn't look large enough to be all of the hydraulic fluid. Motor oil is darker in color, hydraulic fluid is or should be clear. If you're up to fixing the leak and want to track it down you can always add more fluid and while an assistant pumps the pedal see where the leak is coming from.
 
Michael,
The 2nd set of pictures were from the car in the driveway which was only 15-20 minutes.

Skip,
How do you know this? What do I need to do?

Thanks everyone. This is all a learning process for me, so I really appreaciate everyone's help.
 
BlueRidge,

I checked the fittings and they seemed tight. I couldn't turn them with my hand. Also, my mechanic said I would notice a moldy yellow colored substance on the line where the leak was and I did not see this there.

What's the easiest way to get to the master cylinder? From underneath the car?

Thanks
 
Brandon,

I had the same problem on my BJ8 last year. I had just replaced the brake fluid in the system with Castrol. The fluid was entering the brake booster and pooling there. No leaks anywhere else.The new fluid(it was the correct fluid)ate the seals in the brake booster because the PO neglected changing fluid out on a regular basis.
You can confirm this by loosening the bottom screws on the booster and cracking the bottom of the cannister open.
It will take a replacement of the booster or rebuild the original(what I did).
 
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