c3-71 Brake problem

[Peter M.]

To all,

Have 71 Lt1 M21 with 4:11's.

Driving the other day and pulled onto highway and suddenly car tried to pull drastically left. It quickly began to pour smoke from driver front wheelwell with smell of burning brake pads?

Pulled car over and called my friend who is mechanic(I am not mechanically inclined at all). He said the calipers can go bad and stick. Sitting on side of the road waiting for him to show up must have led to the situation correcting itself because I was then able to drive car to his shop with no problems.

He pulled front wheels and was surprised to not see any caliper problem. He bled brakes. At that point, he was perplexed as to what caused it and I went home. Since then have not had the probnlem though I am terrified it will happen again.

He called me yesterday and told me to order new brake hoses as he said, it is rare, but they can disintegrate from the inside causing the fluid to be blocked from going back.

Does this sound like the problem? If so, any suggestions on where (suggested vendor) I should get them? If you don't think this is the problem, please tell me what you think it might be and what I would need to do to fix.

Thanks

[Joe L.]

Re: c3-71 Brake problem

Peter------

The brake hoses can, indeed, deteriorate and cause the problem you describe, although it is, as you've been told, quite rare. I'd definitely replace them. This is a maintenence item, anyway. Just about any hoses of a brand name supplier will be fine (but, not correct as far as every nuance of detail from an "originality" perspective; NO current hoses are). The hoses are DOT items, so government regulations (and product liability insurers) pretty much ensure quality for these parts.

If the hoses aren't the problem, then I might suspect a master cylinder problem.

[Peter M.]

Re: c3-71 Brake problem

Thanks Joe

[Gary S.]

Re: c3-71 Brake problem

As Joe said, hoses can go bad. My 79 Mercedes, a daily driver, had identical indications as your car. After a thorough inspection, nothing turned up. I suspected bad hoses and installed new ones. Problem solved. These were original MB hoses so they were over 24 years old. In addition, replacing hoses is cheap insurance.
Gary

[Jim T.]

Re: c3-71 Brake problem

The same thing happened to me once on my 68's passenger front wheel. Even being able to drive home after a cool down. Replacement the rubber brake hoses fixed it.

[Peter M.]

Re: c3-71 Brake problem - 1 more question

Thanks for feedback from all-sounds like it will be the hoses.

But, just in case it was the Master Cylinder, since I believe this stillhas the original one on the car, is there a way to get them refurbished or do you have to get a replacement part?

[Joe L.]

Re: c3-71 Brake problem - 1 more question

Peter-----

If it's an original and it needs to be repaired, I'd definitely recommend having the original rebuilt. White Post Restorations (www.whitepost.com)or Apple Hydraulics (www.applehydraulics.com) can sleeve and completely rebuild the unit.

[Gary S.]

Re: c3-71 Brake problem - 1 more question

There are plenty of posts in the archives about places that will rebuild your master cylinder. They are also easily rebuildable provided that the bore of the cylinder is in perfect condition.

I have had two GM cars, one my 72 Corvette, that needed the MC rebuilt. The symptoms were periodic mushy brakes. In the case of the Corvette, the brakes went to the floor, the warning light came on, and I almost p**d my pants trying to stop the car before I rear-ended the guy in front of me. The MC seals were easily replaced and, three years later, the brakes still work well.
Gary