RR brake not responding

[rendyx]

Yesterday and today, I discovered that my troublesome (previous fixed) RR brake was dragging. It was creating plenty of heat in the area, so I went home and jacked it up. I couldn't find anythng obvious, besides a little resistance in turning the rotor. I took the caliper apart, and looked at it. Still nothing obvious. I reassembled it, and it (same with before) would not bleed from the valve, although fluid appeared to be coming down the hose (I'm still going to make sure soon). After putting it back together, things changed a little. Now it doesn't drag much or at all, but it appears as though the caliper won't clamp down at all by pressing the petal.

I'm going to rip the caliper off, and inspect it more carefully tomorrow, along with see if I can get fluid to come out of the brake line if I disconnect it at the caliper. And other suggestions as to why this suddenly cropped up? The last 2 things I did before it began was a WOT run, then I believe I put on the parking brake after I stopped, which I then released upon returning to the car.

Any other thoughts? Seems like a bitch, but probably pretty straightforward, nothing unusual.

 

[projectSHO89]

To bleed the lines, you have to make sure that the LR suspension is not hanging. If it is, the proportioning valve will shut off flow to the rear calipers.

You problem could very well be that the brake line has been pinched shut inside the clamp that mounts to the rear strut. Look for an excessive amount of rust in that holder.

Steve

 

[89 Gary]

http://www.classictube.com My 89 also had that problem and we found the lines were getting small rust holes so I ordered from classictube some pre formed ss lines for $200. My pro valve had become a problem also.

 

[rendyx]

It appears to be that fluid is not getting to the caliper. I'm now going to try lowering the car completely (RR is jacked up), and do a little agility exercise and bleed it. Also, I did try loostening the connection from the brake line to the caliper, and still nothing squirted out when I applied the brakes, so I suspect the rubber hose. Steel line is brand new.

 

[Bizzy]

Rendyx, check the brake hoses. They may look good from the outside, but they collapse on the inside. I went through a whole brake catastrophe a couple of years back and it would have saved me much hassle if I had checked those to start with. Take them off and try to blow through them. No blow = bad hoses. It's easier than pulling the caliper off again. About $20 a pop IIRC at Autozone or similar parts stores.

<small>[ February 22, 2003, 03:12 PM: Message edited by: Bizzy ]</small>