is my master cylinder dead??

[Damkid]

93 festiva, standard, aspire swap

it started last week where the brake pedal practically goes to the floor and the front passenger wheel has no brakes, but the drivers side does

i took the wheel off and everything looks the way it should, lots of pads, nothing loose/falling apart

does this sound like my M/C died on me?

[Lardon]

Check this site...you prob fine something for your

Hi...attach is an address with almost all information about brake troubleshooting

http://www.carbibles.com/brake_bible.html

Good luck..!!

[Damkid]

reading the one section in there "cross linked brakes"

it's funny because the rear drivers side has no brakes either, i know my e-brake lever at the drum was sticking and i'm sure the pads are completely gone, and if the wheel cylinder has blown apart that "should" cause a leak, even though i haven't seen any fluid loss in the M/C

so tomorow (it's dark now) i'll take apart the rear brakes to make sure there are no leaks there

[phantorn]

rear brakes give you pedal and feel,front do most of the stopping.Just a general statement guys so dont go off.

[donna]

I just replace my m/c tonight, had the pedal going to the floor for a few days,, would work most of the time but all the sudden they would be gone, tried bleeding and seemed to work for a day, then back to every other time going to the floor, bit the bullet and replace the master,,,,now i can drive without worring about rear ending someone at Christmas time.....
I also had no leaks at wheels or m/c area,,,,

[jglutz]

A typical Master cylinder failure...but not all...can be seen by wetness on the vacuum booster right below ...where..the m/c connects to the booster. If you by a new booster...it will come without the reservoir...you will have to pull the reservoir out and put ito the new on....BE CAREFULL....remove the one screw and be sure to PULL STRAIGHT. When re-installing be sure to lube the grommets with brake fluid.

[FB71]

you only see wetness on the booster if the MC is leaking externally. Internal leaks will not show wetness, but give you identical symptoms. And I think JG means if you buy a new MC, you'll have to swap the res, not a booster...

[jglutz]

^^thanks

[scitzz]

It appears he lost just one cylinder in the master, as evidenced by the loss of braking to the front pass and rear driver side brakes. Good call.

[kzbill]

One section of the master cylinder is for the front, and one for the back. If they were side to side or crossed you would go spinning down the road in quick little circles when you hit the brakes. If you have the room to do 360's while braking I spose it is ok?

[FB71]

many vehicles have cross-circuit brakes. That way, if you loose one circuit, you still have one front and one rear brake (diagonally linked). And no, you don't go spinning. In fact, you're much more likely to stop straight, then if you had just front or rear.

[kzbill]

Hmm.... good one, makes sense when you splain it like that though.
Is it activated in the master cylinder or the proportioning valve? I wanna know, I thought the
Festiva was front to back?
The proportioning valve on the firewall looks like it may be front to back?

[scitzz]

It has been a LONG time since I messed with the proportioning valve, although for a long time I looped a line to stop the rears from engaging. I seem to recall the two lines on the drivers side controlled the rears. I want to say most vehicles are crossed in the same way, at least the ones I have worked on, and that is a lot!

[Damkid]

well i just got done takin the drivers rear wheel apart and everything looks really good, pads still have lots of life etc.

i guess by process of elimination, my master cylinder must be bad

i'll take the one off my parts car tomorrow to find out for sure before i spend $85 on a new M/C

[Safety Guy]

Hey Damkid, how's it doing now?

Here is a link to my brake problem thread:

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14535

I had the same symptoms and it was the M/C. I replaced it and all was well with the world. I'll redo my brakes better come spring.

Good luck!

Karl