Re: 83 TQC brake failure- HELP

[orin@netcom.com (Orin Eman)]

> 
> On the way to work today the brake pedal went to the floor, almost, with some
> bare minimum braking left. I came home, briefly looked at the car but
> couldn't get underneath to check for leaks. The brake fluid resevoir was at
> min level. Earlier in the day my wife drove the car, slid on the ice and went

The brake fluid level is a clue.  I'd guess you have a leak somewhere.
Try looking under where the car is parked for stray brake fluid.  I had a
rear caliper leak where the parking brake lever is attached - similar
symptoms.  I also heard of a case where one of the brake pipes cracked;
again, similar symptoms.

I just remembered, the brakes are dual circuit and the master cylinder is set
up such that if one circuit fails, the other will still work, but the pedal
goes a LONG way down, pumping brake fluid out of the leak before the piston
for the bad circuit can go no further (hits its stop or the other piston)
and you get some action on the good circuit.

This is one of those cases where you don't drive the car until it's fixed.
(My wife wasn't too happy when this happened to our car and I refused to
let the car go anywhere but to the mechanic...)

Orin.