<VV> Fwd: Brake questions

[Dusty Steinberg]

What you describe as a the pedal going half way to the floor, and the master cylinder being full, along with 4000 miles of good braking on a new master cylinder speaks volumes to me. Let me start off by saying that just because something is new, doesn't mean that it is good.  What you have described indicates to me that the master cylinder is failing internally.  This is common on MPS brake parts. some the rubber is failing inside the master cylinder.  I suggest that you take the master cylinder off, and give it a light honing, and replace all the internal rubber parts.  When you rebuild it, lubricate the rubber parts with either brake assembly fluid, or brake fluid of the type that is in your system.  Also, after you hone the cylinder, you need to wash the bore with hot soapy water, and dry.  This will remove the fine metal particles that are left from the honing job.  If you rebuild the wheel cylinders, wash them also.  Whenever I use NOS hydraulic  brake parts, I always disassemble, clean the cylinder and rubber parts with brake cleaner, and reassemble.  It is the old assembly fluid that gums up the works when you don't do this.  I have seen this many times before.  If you need additional instructions or help, contact me directly at my email address.  Paul in CT 

>----- Forwarded Message -----
>
>From: judynrandy at comcast.net 
>To: virtualvairs at corvair.org 
>Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2014 9:57:17 PM 
>Subject: Brake questions 
>
>
>I have a couple of brake questions.  Firstly, does anyone know the size of the "clutchhead" bolts attaching the front wheel cylinders on a '60?  Secondly, In an unrelated issue, I need a confirmation.   The brakes on the said '60 acted very strangely yesterday.  Since getting the car on the road over 4,000 miles ago, the brakes have worked flawlessly. 
>Until yesterday, that is.  I was approaching a stop light.  I applied the pedal like usual.  It went about half way down before getting resistance.  As I kept pushing it, not much happened.  I really had to stand on it to get the car to stop, which it did thankfully. (Phew!  There is a God in heaven and He answers prayers!)  I drove much slower and used the gears to slow down a lot more.  Made it home without mishap.  Now, the question is: Is this the master cylinder?  As I shakily drove home, I pondered all the 'what ifs'.  It's a single master cylinder.  The car was running and driving when I got it.  So I thoroughly inspected the brake system and only fixed what was broken to get it on the road.  I had to replace the pass. side rear rubber brake hose.  Everything else worked ok.  If I had blown a brake line or wheel cylinder, the pedal would have gone to the floor instantly.  It didn't.  If I had another rubber brake hose collapse like the first one I replaced, it would have pulled to one side.  It didn't.  Low brake fluid in the master cylinder could have caused this issue, but it was full.  Anyway, anyone ever have anything like this happen to them?  Thoughts and opinions welcome. 
>  
>Randy(Cap'n)Hook 
>'60 700 4dr '64'110/4spd 
>'63 '500' ragtop 110/pg 
>'65 Monza 4dr. 84/pg 
>
>
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