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When I put the vette away for the latter part of the winter it was fine. Now, the brake pedal goes about 80-90% before it grabs. Brake fluid reservoir was full, so no leaks; flushed out all of the old brake fluid anyway; not much better. I'm driving it because I know the brakes work, but am puzzled as to why the pedal goes much further down before engaging. BTW, the ceramic pads are less than half worn.
When I put the vette away for the latter part of the winter it was fine. Now, the brake pedal goes about 80-90% before it grabs. Brake fluid reservoir was full, so no leaks; flushed out all of the old brake fluid anyway; not much better. I'm driving it because I know the brakes work, but am puzzled as to why the pedal goes much further down before engaging. BTW, the ceramic pads are less than half worn.
Anyone have knowledge regarding this situation?
Since there are no leaks, I'd look at the master cylinder first.
But that's not leaking either. What would looking at it tell me?
The pedal doesn't go all the way to the floor. There are no warning lights; no codes.
The master cylinder doesn't have to leak to fail. Internally, it sounds like fluid is bypassing the seals causing the pedal to travel farther. The master cylinder provides two different pressures, one for front and one for the rear brakes so no telling what's going on with your stopping power if fluid is bypassing one or more seals inside. I would change the master cylinder out immediately if you are sure all of your brakes (at the wheels) are good. Please keep us posted.
But that's not leaking either. What would looking at it tell me?
The pedal doesn't go all the way to the floor. There are no warning lights; no codes.
When a master cylinder fails most of the time there are no leaks. There are seals around the piston that build preasure when when the pedal is depressed.
My guess is one of the 2 rubber o-ring seals has failed...which may be why the brakes still work but not with the hard pedal one is used to.
I would not drive the car anymore until it's checked out.
When a master cylinder fails most of the time there are no leaks. There are seals around the piston that build preasure when when the pedal is depressed.
My guess is one of the 2 rubber o-ring seals has failed...which may be why the brakes still work but not with the hard pedal one is used to.
I would not drive the car anymore until it's checked out.
As I think about the symptoms, it may be possible that only the front or rear braking system is working. Change your master cylinder and don't drive the car until you are certain the brakes are fixed.
I've driven 2-3 thousand miles since I last reported; even with hard braking, my stopping power is still just as strong as it was in the past. Other than the amount of pedal travel, nothing was found wrong.
I've driven 2-3 thousand miles since I last reported; even with hard braking, my stopping power is still just as strong as it was in the past. Other than the amount of pedal travel, nothing was found wrong.
Braking performance was never an issue, just the distance the pedal travels before the brakes grab. The brake fluid has been replaced and the lines have been bled with no change in brake pedal travel distance. Look how many years have gone by since my original post and no diminished braking power. It just hit 85k miles on Sunday. I have 3 vettes, so the miles are not piling up too fast these days, but I still enjoy driving it.
Braking performance was never an issue, just the distance the pedal travels before the brakes grab. The brake fluid has been replaced and the lines have been bled with no change in brake pedal travel distance. Look how many years have gone by since my original post and no diminished braking power. It just hit 85k miles on Sunday. I have 3 vettes, so the miles are not piling up too fast these days, but I still enjoy driving it.
the master cylinder is probably at fault. Mine has a rear leak and does the same thing. Half of my pedal seems just air. Glad i caught it in time
04-16-2014, 10:27 AM
Brake pedal
As I think about the symptoms, it may be possible that only the front or rear braking system is working. Change your master cylinder and don't drive the car until you are certain the brakes are fixed.
