Brakes

So I was driving today and my brake pedal went soft. My dad took the Jeep out for a spin about an hour before I did and he said the brakes were pretty bad. It had been sitting for a few days prior to us taking it out but I'm not sure what would cause it to go soft. The fluid level could have been low and it could have sucked air into the system because I don't see any leaks in the system at all. How do I get the cover off the master cylinder, and does anyone have any other thoughts? Thanks

 

That where mine always seemed to leak before the 11' drums. At the wheel cylinders.

 

It's a 59 with the stock master cylinder. I'll look at the wheel cylinders. If they were leaking, would the fluid bleed past the brake drum and drip onto the floor? My friend also said the seals in the master cylinder could be junk too since it's original. Maybe it's time for a brake upgrade.

 

Surely the master cylinder can't be 50 years old and still working-or just recently failed-could it?

 

It could be that it is by-passing inside the master. If fluid level is good then that is what's going on.

 

Is it soft, like spongy feeling, or is it more like a long pedal travel? If it will "pump up" until hard it could be that shoes need adjusting.

 

Ok so the problem was the master cylinder cover has a very small pinhole in the top, allowing fluid to leak out. I filled it up and bled the brakes and everything was good. I couldn't find leaks anywhere else. Is there a way to patch this small hole, or do I have to get a whole new master cylinder? A dab of JB Weld maybe?

 

Isn't there a vent hole in the cap? Do you see alot of fluid coming out of it? You might want to pull the drums and look for leaky wheel cylinders if you don't see any other obvious brake fluid leaks.

 

Yes, look at the brake backing plates for wetness. The fluid does not just disappear. Likely you have a leaky wheel cylinder.

 

Ok i will not plug that hole. Thanks for pointing that out I feel dumb. I suspect the master cylinder was low for a very long time. The PO definitley never touched it so I have no idea when it was topped off. It's still maintaining the fluid level so it's not leaking fast. I'll pull the drums off when I get home from school sometime next weekend and we'll see. Man I hate being in a dorm 3 and a half hours from my Jeep.

 

if brake fluid is leaking from the vent. he has air in the lines, the air is blowing the fuild back out the vent