Brakes won't bleed... need help asap.

[Spike]

Sigh. Sorry to ask what should be a simple question, but I've spent 2 hours bleeding the '89's brakes. Still straight to the floor.

About 2 months ago I replaced both rear cylinders, and bled the brakes. They felt nice and strong, so I thought yay I did it right.

Go on about a week later, the pedal travel got a bit more (so I knew I messed up somewhere), but it was 15F temp outside, and the travel wasn't too bad. I left it alone until yesterday.

It went from 1 inch travel, to no brakes. The brakes do not leak fluid at all. I had my mother pump for about a 1/2 hour+, bled everything, only got a little more strength once or twice. Fluid is squirting out, I wasn't seeing much air at all.

After that didn't work, I fashioned a fuel hose + mason jar with fluid, and saw a little bubbles. I bled all sides until the bubbles stopped/brake light turned on + filled back up. Wasn't seeing any air come out of rears, did front right, no air, did front left, no air..

Tighten it all back up, STILL NO BRAKES.

It's 30 degrees and I'm definitely not roasting my chestnuts out there.

Anything I'm missing??

-Joe

[Chobobulous]

Something like this happened to me when my master cylinder gave out. Worked fine on the way to work. Super scary on the way back. I took it apart and a piece if rubber on the inside had ripped.

[Spike]

Just tried gravity bleed.. nuttin'..

.........sigh. I haven't got money for a new MC. =/

[Chobobulous]

I got an aspire mc for 15 bucks iirc. Let me look through photo bucket to find a photo of what broke.

Edit: my thread

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49211

look ma no brakes.

[skeeters_keeper]

I just had something similar happen... did some brake work, bled the breaks, and the MC went while we were bleeding the brakes. Leaked fluid into the booster. If it doesn't pump up to pressure then its not air in the lines (or its a LOT of air, and it doesn't sound like that). If its just some air it should get firm after a few quick pumps.

[scitzz]

Yep, sounds like MC to me.

[Spike]

I'm not allowed to say who, but I want to thank them very much.
Someone offered to send me a spare new MC. I thank the kind person very much and God Bless.


Hopefully will have her back on the road by Wednesday/Thursday. Meanwhile, today's the last 30+ day for over a week, so it looks like I have some '90 auto work to get to/get her back on the road.. a lot of mis-matching off the parts car.

-Joe

[Spike]

3 hours later (in 30F weather with up to 35MPH wind hahaha), and it was indeed the Master. I honestly haven't checked what failed, but I might tomorrow if I get around to it/anyone is curious.

Thank you all for your help, and special thanks to ______ for the part they so generously parted with, put in a box, and shipped to my door.

-Joe

[Pu241]

Yes, we are very interested!
We like to know the out come of repairs!
I see a lot people pop on here to get info on their problem, but never report back on a success or failure for that matter.
So please do!

[tooldude]

A master cylinder will fail internally that way due to it's piston seals that fail to hold pressure. The fluid will leak past the seals in the bore, though they may look okay. Many times the m/c will hold enough pressure to apply the brakes but will allow the pedal to slowly depress, or will hold a very low pressure,that's why you can bleed the brakes. It's a time bomb on wheels when it starts, as it can suddenly fail to hold pressure.