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Unusual brakes issue, need HELP.
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moose5255
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Feb 8, 2012, 2:08 PM
Post #1 of 10
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Unusual brakes issue, need HELP.
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I have a 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan, 3.3 liter engine, approximately 200,000 miles engine. My brother and I replaced the front brakes about 3 months ago, all went well, we bled the brakes after and they were fine. a week later my brake pedal went just about to the floor. My brother and I bled the brakes again, there was just a tiny bit of air, but the brakes were fine again after that. Then about 2 weeks later the same thing, pedal almost to the floor. A local garage mechanic told me I needed a new master cylinder. No problem, my brother who is a good "weekend mechanic" installed a new one (he bled the new one first), we then bled the brakes from front to back, we did everything correctly. All was well. A week later my pedal is near the floor again. I'm stumped and my brother is too (and the garage mechanic as well). Any Ideas what could be wrong? Maybe a problem with the ABS? Could the new Master Cylinder be a factory defect? Any and all suggestions are welcome and appreciated. (BTW, there are no leaks in the brake system, none in any of the brake lines, no leaks anywhere. No fluid loss shown in the Master Cylinder either). Thanks in advance.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 8, 2012, 3:58 PM
Post #2 of 10
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Re: Unusual brakes issue, need HELP.
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Is the fluid level dropping at all?
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 8, 2012, 5:51 PM
Post #3 of 10
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Re: Unusual brakes issue, need HELP.
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If this has rear drum, did you check the wheel cylinders? Had seen a few actually suck air in as they retract. It is kind of rare, but it does happen.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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re-tired
Veteran
/ Moderator
Feb 8, 2012, 7:57 PM
Post #4 of 10
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Re: Unusual brakes issue, need HELP.
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If rear drums . Check that the self adjusters are working and have not been mixed up left to right.
LIFE'S SHORT GO FISH
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moose5255
User
Feb 9, 2012, 12:30 PM
Post #5 of 10
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Re: Unusual brakes issue, need HELP.
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No fluid loss at all. Level is where it is supposed to be at all times............But new info. I was checking my mail yesterday and decided to check the brake pedal in the van again. I depressed the brake pedal about 3 or 4 times when suddenly I heard Poof/Swoosh! sound like when a garden hose bursts, then the pedal went straight to the floor. Now I have no brakes at all and fluid gushed out onto the ground under the front of the van. I'm afraid, along with my other problems that a hydraulic hose burst. My brother is coming over this Sunday and we're going to check the hydraulics and replace the broken hose. It must be a hydraulic hose, because we replaced all the brake lines very recently. Will let you know how things go. Thanks for your help, I appreciate it very much.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Feb 9, 2012, 1:12 PM
Post #6 of 10
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Re: Unusual brakes issue, need HELP.
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Heard of but never saw one but flex hose may have ballooned out and now just burst. You would think you'd have a soft pedal right along but perhaps not. Now that it's leaking you'll find it. If really a flex hose do them all as this is just too dangerous for the surprise you've mentioned about this,
T
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moose5255
User
Feb 9, 2012, 1:14 PM
Post #7 of 10
(1754 views)
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Re: Unusual brakes issue, need HELP.
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To Discretesignals:
New info. I was checking my mail yesterday and decided to check the brake pedal in the van again. I depressed the brake pedal about 3 or 4 times when suddenly I heard a Poof/Swoosh! sound like when a garden hose bursts, then the pedal went straight to the floor. Now I have no brakes at all and fluid gushed out onto the ground under the front of the van. I'm afraid, along with my other problems that a hydraulic hose might have burst. My brother is coming over this Sunday and we're going to check the hydraulics and replace the broken hose (if that's what it is). It must be a hydraulic hose, because we just recently replaced all the brake lines, installed a new master cylinder, calipers are fine, it's like a new brake system. That's what's so frustrating about all this. After we fix the hydraulic hose issue (if it is that), we're going to check the wheel cylinders because yes, the rear brakes are drum. Will let you know how things work out. I didn't know the cylinders can suck air, thanks for the heads up, we certainly will check it out. Thanks for all of your help and input, I appreciate it very much.
P.S. Is it possible the Parts store sold me a defective master cylinder? Just a thought...
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moose5255
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Feb 9, 2012, 1:19 PM
Post #8 of 10
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Re: Unusual brakes issue, need HELP.
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We didn't replace the rear brakes they look fine, but will check anyway along with everything else we're going to do. Thank you very much, will let you know how it all works out.
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moose5255
User
Feb 9, 2012, 1:39 PM
Post #9 of 10
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Re: Unusual brakes issue, need HELP.
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Thanks Tom, we plan on replacing any and all flex hoses. As you said, too dangerous not to change them all. Dang, if I could afford it I'd take the darn van to a brake specialist, but for what I'd get charged I could buy another van from about that year. The van has otherwise been very well maintained. No rust at all, motor and the rest of the drive train is like new (I replaced the transmission just 5 months ago). Too much invested in it, financially and emotionally to let a brake issue get in the way. Besides, it was my father and my mom's van and they both recently passed away. They loved that van, so obviously it also has emotional value to me. I'm just lucky we have two vehicles. We've been using our Audi until the van is fixed. Thanks again Tom for your input, we certainly will replace the hoses. I'll let you know how things turn out.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Feb 9, 2012, 2:33 PM
Post #10 of 10
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Re: Unusual brakes issue, need HELP.
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moose5255: The deal with flex hoses is they can fail in a few ways. One is they can become check valves and not release brake(s) beyond them, two is crimp can rust out and they fly off but you notice that and because a flare nut is used into them that flare nut if even the slightest rusted can be troubles.
Calipers should NOT hang by those hoses and more problems happen to the front ones as those twist for steering plus the suspension motion. If one was stressed by time or whatever I did say they can balloon up which would give you a soft pedal no near nothing as you said and usually bust and now something like that has happened.
Disc/drum set ups frequent have just three but if somehow more were needed so be it and should be listed at a parts outlet.
You may need help from a shop with more tools to finish off bleeding but seemed like you achieved that a couple times.
You'll find it or them not looking so good and do get neglected in brake work too often IMO,
T
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