Totally Baffled: loss brakes on 1987 pickup

thebigdog · 01-12-2009, 04:13 AM

Totally Baffled: loss brakes on 1987 pickup

The truck is a 4X4 pickup with a 22RE engine, and an automatic transmission.
A few weeks ago I noticed very infrequently that my brake pedal kept slowly sinking.

This only happened sometimes, while I was waiting for the traffic light to change.
The brakes always stopped perfectly and this symptom soon disappeared.
Today after a month past by, it happened again and I totally loss all brakes.
If a pumped the pedal 5 – 7 times, it briefly gets pressure again but disappears again almost immediately.
Luckily I was near the house, and inched my way back home with massive brake pedal pumping.

It seemed a little like there is air in the lines, but I’ve never seen anything this bad in any other vehicle.
I can find no brake leaks at all and the brake fluid level is full to the top.
This past Spring I had preformed a full brake system overhaul, which included the following:

Every entire steel brake lines, all rubber brake hoses, master cylinder, brake proportioning valve,
Rotors, calipers, drums and shoes (only thing left original was the vacuum booster.

I am totally stumped – re-bleeding the master cylinder and all the wheels has no improvement.
The front brakes are just as bad as the back brakes (basically NOTHING).
The parking brake will still engage, but nothing at all from the hydraulics…

Has this ever happened to anyone at this forum?
Can anybody suggest any kind of help?

Help Please…

Kennyray · 01-12-2009, 05:18 AM

Sounds like the master cylinder is bad, just cause its new does't mean it is good

thebigdog · 01-12-2009, 05:30 AM

Anyway that I can test it?

Thank you

Kennyray · 01-12-2009, 05:33 AM

I would just replace it, did you get one with a lifetime warrenty?

436'd skylark · 01-12-2009, 06:10 AM

if you lost your pedal but didn't lose fluid its pretty much a dead ringer for the master.

leolkfrm · 01-12-2009, 06:46 AM

I agree, if you have confirmed no leaks, the fluid is bypassing inside the master cyl. change it out, if you did not get lifetime you now see why the couple of extra dollars is worth it

silverhairdeere · 01-12-2009, 07:15 AM

have you had to add any brake fulid at all . you never said .

shd

thebigdog · 01-12-2009, 06:02 PM

Everything working great again
Thanks everyone, for all the help & suggestions

The fist time that I every had a master cylinder fail like that.
It really scared the **** out of me.

Everyone hear's that all brakes have safeties to help you stop if a line breaks.
All that really went out the window when my MC kicked the bucket.
It was just instant pedal to the floor.

I went to a remanufactured this time, since the last MC was brand new.
One little piece of rubber ripping, can cause lots of trouble (New or remanufacture)

leolkfrm · 01-12-2009, 06:37 PM

Glad everything worked out, drive safe cause ya never know

Kennyray · 01-12-2009, 07:42 PM

glad to be able to help.

01-12-2009, 04:13 AM	#1
thebigdog Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 3	Totally Baffled: loss brakes on 1987 pickup Totally Baffled: loss brakes on 1987 pickup The truck is a 4X4 pickup with a 22RE engine, and an automatic transmission. A few weeks ago I noticed very infrequently that my brake pedal kept slowly sinking. This only happened sometimes, while I was waiting for the traffic light to change. The brakes always stopped perfectly and this symptom soon disappeared. Today after a month past by, it happened again and I totally loss all brakes. If a pumped the pedal 5 – 7 times, it briefly gets pressure again but disappears again almost immediately. Luckily I was near the house, and inched my way back home with massive brake pedal pumping. It seemed a little like there is air in the lines, but I’ve never seen anything this bad in any other vehicle. I can find no brake leaks at all and the brake fluid level is full to the top. This past Spring I had preformed a full brake system overhaul, which included the following: Every entire steel brake lines, all rubber brake hoses, master cylinder, brake proportioning valve, Rotors, calipers, drums and shoes (only thing left original was the vacuum booster. I am totally stumped – re-bleeding the master cylinder and all the wheels has no improvement. The front brakes are just as bad as the back brakes (basically NOTHING). The parking brake will still engage, but nothing at all from the hydraulics… Has this ever happened to anyone at this forum? Can anybody suggest any kind of help? Help Please…

01-12-2009, 06:10 AM	#5
436'd skylark Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Buffalo Ny Posts: 661	if you lost your pedal but didn't lose fluid its pretty much a dead ringer for the master. __________________ Joe 89 K2500 Chevy, Wee-Oh-five 285K miles, completly rebuilt needs a motor, bad 1962 IHC Scout All Wheel Drive (Scout speak for locking axles) 152 ci, dana everything else

01-12-2009, 06:46 AM	#6
leolkfrm Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: N.Y. Posts: 4,300	I agree, if you have confirmed no leaks, the fluid is bypassing inside the master cyl. change it out, if you did not get lifetime you now see why the couple of extra dollars is worth it __________________ 4 wheels move the body 2 wheels move the soul B.W.A.I

01-12-2009, 06:02 PM	#8
thebigdog Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 3	Everything working great again Thanks everyone, for all the help & suggestions The fist time that I every had a master cylinder fail like that. It really scared the **** out of me. Everyone hear's that all brakes have safeties to help you stop if a line breaks. All that really went out the window when my MC kicked the bucket. It was just instant pedal to the floor. I went to a remanufactured this time, since the last MC was brand new. One little piece of rubber ripping, can cause lots of trouble (New or remanufacture) Last edited by mudseeker; 01-12-2009 at 10:13 PM. Reason: removed hyperlink

01-12-2009, 06:37 PM	#9
leolkfrm Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: N.Y. Posts: 4,300	Glad everything worked out, drive safe cause ya never know __________________ 4 wheels move the body 2 wheels move the soul B.W.A.I

01-12-2009, 05:18 AM	#2
Kennyray Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 648	Sounds like the master cylinder is bad, just cause its new does't mean it is good

01-12-2009, 05:30 AM	#3
thebigdog Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 3	Anyway that I can test it? Thank you

01-12-2009, 05:33 AM	#4
Kennyray Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 648	I would just replace it, did you get one with a lifetime warrenty?

01-12-2009, 07:15 AM	#7
silverhairdeere Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: land between the lakes tn Posts: 1,182	have you had to add any brake fulid at all . you never said . shd

01-12-2009, 07:42 PM	#10
Kennyray Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 648	glad to be able to help.

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