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  #1  
Old 04-11-2009, 08:44 AM
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brake pedal went to the floor while braking!!??

1982 300td wagon.
after driving around all day no problems I pushed the brake pedal and it felt spongy. Next time it went to the floor and I thought, air in the lines or failure of a brake line or caliper. Looked under car and there was no brake fluid anywhere. After sitting for 15 min or so I started the car and cautiously drove using the emergency brake at first then pushed the brake pedal to test it out and it worked like normal all the way home. I am stumped. Is something about to fail for good?

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83 TD wagon "Madge" PO's given name. 410k (150k engine)
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  #2  
Old 04-11-2009, 08:53 AM
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Do not drive it until you find the problem !!!!
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Old 04-11-2009, 08:55 AM
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Have you checked the level of fluid in the system ?
Have you looked for vacuum leaks .. listened for them when actuating the pedal,etc ?
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  #4  
Old 04-11-2009, 09:07 AM
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I see a new Master Cylinder in your future!
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  #5  
Old 04-11-2009, 10:27 AM
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Had the sam thing happen to me, but in the front yard. drove in the driveway, turning around by the barn and it went to the floor. I did have a problem that I had to add brake fluid to it every once in a while. never ay leaks.
I pulled off the master cyl and the booster was 1/2 full of brake fluid.

so I replaced them both. was cheap insurance replacing both for me thinking about what they do on a daily basis.

If it is just the master, easy fix. two bolts and two brake lines.
it is the booster, there are 4 nuts to remove under the dash that bolt the peddles to the fire wall. top left can be a fun one to get to. and the pin that connects the booster rod to the brake lever.
The nuts I believe are 13mm.
Charlie
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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works
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  #6  
Old 04-11-2009, 10:57 AM
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Master cylinder.
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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13
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  #7  
Old 04-11-2009, 12:14 PM
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Thanks for all the replies. I will keep you guys posted of what I find.
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83 TD wagon "Madge" PO's given name. 410k (150k engine)
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Old 04-11-2009, 12:38 PM
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Ditto on the Master Cylinder. Replaced mine due to the same symptoms about 3 Months ago. Works great now.
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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel
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  #9  
Old 04-11-2009, 08:00 PM
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I had the same problem when I drove my 300SD back from the PO's place. Turned out most of the calipers were frozen. 4 rebuilt calipers from Napa later, problem is gone and braking is normal. Typically a MC problem though....
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  #10  
Old 04-11-2009, 08:13 PM
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Be sure to read the instructions on the MC...
many of them REQUIRE BENCH BLEEDING...
not hard.. but REQUIRED if it is called for...
you can find the Bench Bleeding METRIC kit at NAPA... and perhaps other places although I could not find any others in Austin...
You just put those nipple in the side where the lines will go... and fluid in the tank..and pump until you have gotten rid of the air...
Then leave it on as long as you can.... like install the MC and get the lines ready.. then pull this nipple and bleeding hose...which goes back up into the tank...
If it calls for this and you think you can do it in the car.. like holding your fingers on the exit holes and pumping from the inside... like I thought in the past....you will be taking the MC back off and doing like the instructions say to do...
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Old 04-11-2009, 10:42 PM
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Master cylinder.

Change it, and bleed the system.
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  #12  
Old 04-12-2009, 09:03 AM
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Too risky not to change or rebuild the master cylinder. There probably are few feeings to equal not having brakes when you really need them .

Different people will react dfferent and it will vary by individual . Everything from freezing up to slamming on the emergncy brake. If that is not enough also putting the automatic in reverse.

We are talking panic reactions here. Also make sure you change all the brake fluid out when you change the cylinder. If you had been doing some repedative braking at speed the old tired fluid might have boiled.

A few years ago you could buy the master cylinder kit. I imagine they are still out there somewhere. Came with an installation tool. People stopped vending the kits because of liability issues.

The bores appeared perfect in the couple I rekitted. Tired and worn rubber components . What really disturbs me about the law is another person could be held liable for your judgement if a cylinder is fit to rebuild.

Since I had no ideal how old the master cylinders were on the examples of cars I brought. The ten dollar kits at the time made sense to me. In fact I should try digging around for a couple of more if cheap enough.
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  #13  
Old 04-13-2009, 02:15 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Diesel911 View Post
Ditto on the Master Cylinder. Replaced mine due to the same symptoms about 3 Months ago. Works great now.

Back in Oct 2007 when I replaced the above Master Cylinder with a rebuilt one; after 2 bleeding the brakes were still slightly spongy and the pedal would sink slightly. While I knew this was not the best I did not return the Master Cylinder.

About 2 months ago the Pedal Went to the floor. The rebuilt Master Cylinder had never been that good to begin with. If you replace yours with a rebuilt one use better judgement than I did and make sure you have one that works perfectly so it will last the 4-5 years that they are supposed to instead of the 1 year and 4 months mine did.

I replaced it with a brand new one from Autozone a Fenco #NM52326 (no ABS on my car), I normally buy rebuilt instead of new parts but this time I wanted the job to be 100% successful. (The new Fenco Dynapak Master Cylinder is made in Tiawan, Fenco also has rebuilts; can check the part numbers needed for your car on their web site.)

It also took me a month to find the invoice for the old rebuilt one and where I put the old Master Cylinder. Over the weekend I went back and exchanged it for another Rebuilt one (I now have an Extra MC).
The rebuilt MCs are CARDONE rebuilts.
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  #14  
Old 04-13-2009, 10:13 PM
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still haven't had time to get to it. I have been driving my other wagon in the meantime. Thanks again for all the input. I know one of the rear calipers is frozen so I will start there and then replace the MC as well as bleed the whole system.
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83 TD wagon "Madge" PO's given name. 410k (150k engine)
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  #15  
Old 06-03-2009, 07:19 PM
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Ok. Sorry it has taken so long to update this. Been moving and remodeling.

I replaced the rear caliper which was frozen and problem solved! No on to the rest of my car projects.......

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83 TD wagon "Madge" PO's given name. 410k (150k engine)
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