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Brakes are not cooperating- Please help!!!

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  • #1

    Brakes are not cooperating- Please help!!!

    Before anyone asks... Yes, I did do a search. I did not find what I was looking for. So...

    Here's the skinny:

    Noticed the brake light illuminated the other day. Car drove fine, e-brake was off but light was on.

    Next day noticed puddle on driveway and discovered MC leaking.

    Purchased an Aspire MC, bench bled it and installed it. Bled brakes in appropriate fashion and added nice clean fluid.

    Wrapped it up and took the festy for a short spin. Brake light is off.

    No brakes until pedal is pressed several times- usually 4-5 times and then I get a nice firm pedal.


    Be advised, all of the braking system is new all the way around and was functioning even with a leaky MC.

    One issue I did see: When I pulled old MC I noticed that the plunger from the vacuum booster was kind of loose- meaning that it was able to be pulled out a bit and moved about. I've never seen that before but then again I've never swapped MC's on a Festy either. Nevertheless, I made sure the plunger was properly seated before installing the MC. The MC is not leaking, lines are tight and not leaking, the MC is full of fresh fluid, all the ends were bled, electrical plug was plugged in, I don't know what else to check.

    Can anyone give me any ideas here? I'm thinking a bad Vacuum booster but cannot be sure. (Never seen a vacuum booster go bad)

    Please advise. All assistance is welcome.
    Last edited by boostmaster; 10-19-2009, 05:05 PM.
    88 LX - Twin turbo, Intercooled :p
    Recently re-chistened from "Cheapstiva" to "Expenstiva"
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Still has air in the system. Rebleed the brakes. Start at rt rear, fartherest from the MC, next lf rear, rt front, then the lf front. If the problem persist, get another MC.
    Chuck
    Life's a beach, then you marry one---- Shakespeare
    If money will fix it, it's not broken
    91 GL -Ol' Rusty
    93 GL - Lil Red
    91 L - Tweetystiva
    http://www.fuelly.com/car/ford/festi...tfordcat/54176
    http://www.fuelly.com/car/ford/festi...tfordcat/54596

    Comment

    • #3
      Air still in the system? We beld from rear to front until there was no air at all. I wonder how much more bleeding we'd need to do? I know that air being in the system makes sense as it is what I was first thinking but, it sure felt like we got all the air out the first time.

      I'll def, give it another shot...

      Any other ideas???
      88 LX - Twin turbo, Intercooled :p
      Recently re-chistened from "Cheapstiva" to "Expenstiva"

      Comment

      • #4
        It sounds like there is still air... Like everyone else said but here is a site that does a step by step of the bleeding Process. Maybe there is just something you missed? I don't know. Hope you figure it out or that this helps you!

        404: This page could not be found
        http://www.helium.com/items/1298369-how-to-bleed-your-brakes
        -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Nancy- 1.8L BP, aspire swap, g-trans
        The Adventures of Nancy! Build Thread
        -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

        My Musica! Click me!

        Comment

        • #5
          How much free play does your brake pedal have in it at the top of the stroke? Same as with the Festiva Master cylinder?

          Comment

          • #6
            Same play as Festiva MC.. Gonna try to bleed again tomorrow. Still doesn't feel right though...
            88 LX - Twin turbo, Intercooled :p
            Recently re-chistened from "Cheapstiva" to "Expenstiva"

            Comment

            • #7
              well, if you're sure there's no air left, then you have an internal MC problem (get new one under warrenty).
              Trees aren't kind to me...

              currently: 2 88Ls (Scrappy and Jersey), 88LX, 90L(Pepe), 91L, 91GL (Skippy) 93 GL Sport (the Mighty Favakk), 94 (Bruce) & 95 Aspire SEs, 97 Aspire (The Joker),
              94 Justy 4WD, 87 Fiero GT, plus 2 parts cars. That's my fleet.

              Comment

              • #8
                Originally posted by hotfordcat View Post
                Still has air in the system. Rebleed the brakes. Start at rt rear, fartherest from the MC, next lf rear, rt front, then the lf front. If the problem persist, get another MC.
                OK, over the years, I have seen this, and done this, and it worked fine, but I returned to my tried and true just out of habit....(Also have heard RF, LR, LF, RR, never tried it)

                I was taught, oh, about 20 years ago, that you start at the closest to the MC, and work away!

                Like I said, I have had luck both ways, and seriously, I have HUNDREDS of brake jobs under my belt!

                Just my 2 cents there....

                I also like to use a vacuum pump to bleed the brakes, no mess, and easy as pie....

                Another way to get air in the lines is, well, through the lines, and other connections. Look for signs of leaking, for S&G's....

                Testing the power booster is easy as well. Engine off, press the pedal 5 or 6 times, pedal height should be consistent. Holding pedal, start engine. The pedal should go down slightly, let engine run for a minute or two.

                turn the engine off, and press the pedal a few times kinda' slowly.... If it is airtight, it will go down a good ways the first pump, then tighten up the next couple of times....

                Then again, you have to be sure there is no air in the lines first!
                Contact me for information about Festiva Madness!
                Remember, FestYboy is inflatable , and Scitzz means crazy, YO!
                "Like I'm going to suggest we do the job right." ~Fecomatter May 28 2016.

                Comment

                • #9
                  Originally posted by Charlie1717 View Post
                  It sounds like there is still air... Like everyone else said but here is a site that does a step by step of the bleeding Process. Maybe there is just something you missed? I don't know. Hope you figure it out or that this helps you!

                  http://www.helium.com/items/1298369-...ed-your-brakes
                  Is that your helium article?
                  Contact me for information about Festiva Madness!
                  Remember, FestYboy is inflatable , and Scitzz means crazy, YO!
                  "Like I'm going to suggest we do the job right." ~Fecomatter May 28 2016.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    I think my bench bleed is the problem, I'm gonna go out and try it again this evening. Should not be too big an issue to resolve...

                    I'll post back when I get good results.
                    88 LX - Twin turbo, Intercooled :p
                    Recently re-chistened from "Cheapstiva" to "Expenstiva"

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Fixed it!!! Still needed a bit more bleeding. No it stops like nobody's business.
                      88 LX - Twin turbo, Intercooled :p
                      Recently re-chistened from "Cheapstiva" to "Expenstiva"

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Originally posted by boostmaster View Post
                        Fixed it!!! Still needed a bit more bleeding. No it stops like nobody's business.
                        Kewl
                        Contact me for information about Festiva Madness!
                        Remember, FestYboy is inflatable , and Scitzz means crazy, YO!
                        "Like I'm going to suggest we do the job right." ~Fecomatter May 28 2016.

                        Comment

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