No brakes, peddle goes to floor

[bobsgarage]

I now have my truck running smoothly and at a good idle once warmed up. Problem, no brakes, peddle goes to floor.
Replaced vacuum connector on manifold and put splice in line for trans. as i could not find this part ANYWHERE.
replaced vacuum hoses with new and attached all with clamps, cleaned out pvc valve and repalced that hose as well.
Fluid was empty when bought from PO. Engine is not smoking, but fluid in FRONT cup keeps being low every couple days.
With no signs of leaking. Bleeeders are trashed from PO. Unless I drill and tap. Yesterday while working on truck peddle seemed to
be gettting stiffer, like lines where filling from the cups. pumped both with lid on and with lid off. after running truck today and adjusting
peddle goes to floor. Any ideas what to check for or about.
Does the front small reserve cup run to the back and the larger to the fronts ? The left rear is leaking fluid down the inside of the rim and tire.
Most likely the cylinder. The rear appears to be renewed at some point, lines and what not are in like new condition as compared to the fronts.
to change fronts would require removing hose and cylinder together most likely as they appear unable to bleed, unless I drill out the bleeder and retap
for a new one.

[fireguywtc]

Brakes are a simple hydraulic system, so if you cant find any leakage and you have fluid in the master cylinder, then you have air somewhere. That is what is preventing you from building pressure, since air is compressable and fluid is not. Your only remedy is to bleed the brakes. Sorry to hear they are shot, but if you can get some sort of a small pipe wrench on them, perhaps you can get them to back out. You can get new ones at a parts store to replace the old ones.

[fordman]

i have put vise grips on bleeders before that were stuck. and then take a hammer and smack the vise grips to get the bleeder to turn.

[mrsnicks]

If your fluid is going low in the master cylinder you have a leak. You could have a leaky wheel cylinder and the only way to tell is to pull off al the wheels and the little rubber boots and look for signs of leakage. If you have a Power Booster it could be leaking in the booster itself. Bottom line if fluid level is dropping it's going somewhere. You will never get a firm/safe pedal with a leak.

Patrick

[bobsgarage]

found leak in rear on driver side cylinder, will be changing, are the bleeders really strong enough to be torqued on?
bought two today in the event they brake off. Already have taps and screw exstracter.

[fordman]

when i have had to put vise grips on them. i usually throw away the wheel cylnder if the bleeder breaks off and it was leakign. you dont want to torque down the new bleeder. just close it with a wrench.

[bobsgarage]

Got the rear changed, still unable to bleed front, with engine running peddle goes to floor still. How can I check the vaccuum off the intake to make sure its ok? Or is there a way to check the brake booster itself.

[fireguywtc]

I still believe that if your pedal goes to the floor there is nothing wrong with your booster, it is from the master cylinder or beyond. You really need to bleed the brakes completely to totally solve the problem. I am glad you found the leak, it sounds like you are close to being done.

To check vacum though, you can take off the hose near the brake booster and check to see if it is getting vacum. As soon as you pull it the truck will start to run poorly.

[fordman]

the booster will only make the brakes easier to push. that is all it does. you could almost call a brake booster a vacuum assist brake setup. because that is how it operates. it has nothing to do with air in the fluid system. which sounds like what you have.

[bobsgarage]

thanks for all the help guys, I do have a commercial account with the parts store in the event I have to take them both off the front. The peddle is stiffer, some what without the engine running. but like I said, some one had replaced alot of the rear and the front IS OLD AS CRAP. the front hoses and so bad the flexible hose looks rusted to the cyclinder. If I take the hose's loose at the block they attach to, and fluid pumps at the line, then I am guessing the block they attach too, or from there to the barkes is my problem.? With the cyclinders unscrewed the backing plate looks like it has a big enough opening for the hose's to come threw.? Didn't have time to check vaccum today but will before work or after. the shoes on the rear are worn alot more then the front also. When cleaning the rears, the hardware appeared to be alot newer under all the crud growing on them. I will let you know what I find out tomorrow. the vise grip plyers only slip on front bleeders. The smallest pipe wrench I have is the smallest you can buy, but I don't know that I can get ahold of the fitting. thanks again.

[fordman]

the rubber hose will probably come out throught the backing plate no problem. it could probably use replacing anyway.

[bobsgarage]

I know, but I so just want to drive my bump at least once before I take it apart this winter and start welding and painting.
It's like a sickness I tell ya, probably quite driven the lincoln, LOL...
Probably buy a set of junk skins for the rear just to burn them off, no sense wasting the new tires, cause I know I'm gonna.

[TNIceWolf]

bobsgarage

If you are experiencing those types of problems an all out visual brake inspection is in order. Meaning pull the drums and do some serious checking. Just looking around the lines and the outside of the backing plates isn't going to reveal something like a stuck wheel cylinder for example. Just a thought. Also.....a pedal that goes to the floor and doesnt build with vigorous continued pumping of the pedal is often associated with a bad master cylinder.