5000s brake woes

[Mike Arman <armanmik@n-jcenter.com>]

>From: A  v  G <avangerb@zoo.uvm.edu>
>Subject: 5000s Brake Woes Part II
>
>My poor sister's '86 5000s is in the dog house again.  The brakes had been
>locking up on her when in traffic or on the highway and not releasing.
>The bomb was replaced a week ago.  Today I had to drive 2 hours to go and
>get her because the brakes had locked up again and had gotten so hot on
>the highway that the front wheels were producing a blueish, black smoke.
>I came to her aid and checked all the fluids, fine.  The brake pedal had a
>notched feeling and was VERY spongy and springy, hard to brake.  BUT after
>I pumped the brakes with the cap off the resevoir the brakes no longer had
>the clamping problem for the 2 hour trip home, what gives?  Is it the M.C.
>or something else, remember there is a new bomb in there.  She says that
>the original feel of the brakes since she bought the car is back.  When
>she drove the car after the new bomb was just installed she said the
>brakes felt strange, with that notch in the pedal stroke at the top of the
>stroke.  Now there is no resistance for about a half inch then it is like
>a giant spring is fighting the pedal back, real annoying, also the car
>doesn't stop so quickly anymore, err, crashhh...
> 
>Thanks<!
>
>         AvG '88 80
>

Change the master cylinder. Bad master cylinder will give brakes dragging
and other problems as above. Buy a lifetime g'tee rebuilt (nomex on) at
local Pep Boys. etc. Solves the problem 100%. We already talked about this!

Flush and bleed brakes after installation - the area around the
proportioning valve makes the rears a little difficult to bleed properly,
but be persistent. Use DOT-4, not DOT-3 brake fluid.

Do it soon . . .

Best Regards,

Mike Arman