Complete Master Cyliner Failure WHILE DRIVING
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 511
Likes: 4
From: Orlando, FL
Complete Master Cyliner Failure WHILE DRIVING
1985 f150 5.0 FI AOD
There is a moment where you are driving and you hit the brake and nothing happens, then you pump the brake and when nothing happens, that moment, you **** your pants.
Yes, I had a pedal that touched the floor and didn't slow the truck one bit. A complete master cylinder failure with no signs or warning. I was in traffic and when I had no brakes I pulled sharp (across 2 lanes) right in the grass across the sidewalk, took the right turn to avoid the intersection, went down that road and put it in N and pumped what was left of the brake and hit the parking brake. I was less than 2 blocks from home so I rolled it home. I put a rebuilt master cylinder in today. All seems fine.
Anyone ever see a failure like this? Any ideas as to why no warning? Anything else I should pay attention to as I am not going to go through that again. EVER. The week before I had a locked up caliper that I replaced with a rebuilt along with the hose and bled the system. Then yesterday this. Almost did the booster today just for the hell of it, but I can't drop anymore cash now.
Anyone else a member of the NO BRAKES club??? If so, you know what I am talking about when I say that moment when you realize you got no brakes. Its crazy man.
There is a moment where you are driving and you hit the brake and nothing happens, then you pump the brake and when nothing happens, that moment, you **** your pants.
Yes, I had a pedal that touched the floor and didn't slow the truck one bit. A complete master cylinder failure with no signs or warning. I was in traffic and when I had no brakes I pulled sharp (across 2 lanes) right in the grass across the sidewalk, took the right turn to avoid the intersection, went down that road and put it in N and pumped what was left of the brake and hit the parking brake. I was less than 2 blocks from home so I rolled it home. I put a rebuilt master cylinder in today. All seems fine.
Anyone ever see a failure like this? Any ideas as to why no warning? Anything else I should pay attention to as I am not going to go through that again. EVER. The week before I had a locked up caliper that I replaced with a rebuilt along with the hose and bled the system. Then yesterday this. Almost did the booster today just for the hell of it, but I can't drop anymore cash now.
Anyone else a member of the NO BRAKES club??? If so, you know what I am talking about when I say that moment when you realize you got no brakes. Its crazy man.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 4
From: Pablo MT
The warning signs before complete failure is that the pedal will creep to the floor while stopped. Most people call that common and not to worry about it since there is no fluid loss. What is happening is that the fluid is leaking past the pistons and back into the reservoir.
Ahahahahahaha!!!
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 15,521
Likes: 13
From: Ethiopia, Mongoria
my brakes went out when i was pulling up to a stop light in the rain. pedal hit the floor, i said sh*t and hit the parking brake. i was also a block from home so i limped it down the road. not something i want to do again.