Brake pedal slowly goes to floor on start up
Senior Member
Joined: 07-05-2008
Posts: 5,464
From: Akron Ohio
"I was there for the "good old days" of 4 wheel drums, I understand that people cling to what "Dad used to say", but things have changed since 1972, when only Caddys had front disc brakes".
Me too, my 1953 Chevy had all drum brakes & master cylinder under the floor board trap door.
But my 1972 Chevy Vega had disc brakes up front..
Just sayin..
Me too, my 1953 Chevy had all drum brakes & master cylinder under the floor board trap door.
But my 1972 Chevy Vega had disc brakes up front..
Just sayin..
The real fun back then was if you lost a line you lost all the brakes with the single reservoir master cylinders. It was a good thing people back then used the E brake and most of them worked.
If you have never driven a car with mechanical brakes only on the rear. These old cars are a real thrill on a steep hill. You have to wonder if you will stop. It is amazing more people were not killed.
Joined: 08-10-2011
Posts: 6
From: Wisconsin
Sorry but I have an 08 Auto SS and know the issue well since I had the same issue too before the pump was added.
You have a hard pedal but it will still not hit the floor. It may feel like it but as long as you have hydralic pressure and no air in the lines vaccum or not it will never hit the floor.
For a pedal to hit the floor you need the lack of fluid, broken line, air in the lines or a failed mater cylinder.
Now if the issue involves the loss of fluid it will keep going to the floor till it is repaired. Now if it is air or a master cylinder that is letting fluid past the piston the pedal can pump back up.
THere are also some cases if the ABS has an issue it can let the pedal drop some too but it is not common.
Trust me if the pedal hit the floor you will really know it. Been there and done that many times bringing customers cars in.
You have a hard pedal but it will still not hit the floor. It may feel like it but as long as you have hydralic pressure and no air in the lines vaccum or not it will never hit the floor.
For a pedal to hit the floor you need the lack of fluid, broken line, air in the lines or a failed mater cylinder.
Now if the issue involves the loss of fluid it will keep going to the floor till it is repaired. Now if it is air or a master cylinder that is letting fluid past the piston the pedal can pump back up.
THere are also some cases if the ABS has an issue it can let the pedal drop some too but it is not common.
Trust me if the pedal hit the floor you will really know it. Been there and done that many times bringing customers cars in.
Platinum Member
Joined: 01-09-2007
Posts: 16,081
From: SE USA
Hyper- I hated pulling up the carpets & etc to check B fluid also..
And agree the single master was scary if any leak occurred.
The E-Brake was very necessary..
Fwiw:
The first year for disc brakes on GM products is 1967. All cars before this point in time had four wheel drum brakes. Disc brakes were introduced as an option from 1967-1972. Starting in the 1973 model year front disc brakes were standard and front drums were no longer available.
When disc brakes were developed so was the dual master cylinder, so all 1967 and newer cars had dual masters. Disc brakes required different pressures so the master was divided into two halves to provide pressure to the front and rear separately. This also meant that if a front line blew out the car would still have pressure to the rear brakes and vise versa.
And agree the single master was scary if any leak occurred.
The E-Brake was very necessary.. Fwiw:
The first year for disc brakes on GM products is 1967. All cars before this point in time had four wheel drum brakes. Disc brakes were introduced as an option from 1967-1972. Starting in the 1973 model year front disc brakes were standard and front drums were no longer available.
When disc brakes were developed so was the dual master cylinder, so all 1967 and newer cars had dual masters. Disc brakes required different pressures so the master was divided into two halves to provide pressure to the front and rear separately. This also meant that if a front line blew out the car would still have pressure to the rear brakes and vise versa.
Senior Member
Joined: 07-05-2008
Posts: 5,464
From: Akron Ohio
Hyper- I hated pulling up the carpets & etc to check B fluid also..
And agree the single master was scary if any leak occurred. The E-Brake was very necessary..
Fwiw:
The first year for disc brakes on GM products is 1967. All cars before this point in time had four wheel drum brakes. Disc brakes were introduced as an option from 1967-1972. Starting in the 1973 model year front disc brakes were standard and front drums were no longer available.
When disc brakes were developed so was the dual master cylinder, so all 1967 and newer cars had dual masters. Disc brakes required different pressures so the master was divided into two halves to provide pressure to the front and rear separately. This also meant that if a front line blew out the car would still have pressure to the rear brakes and vise versa.
And agree the single master was scary if any leak occurred.
The E-Brake was very necessary.. Fwiw:
The first year for disc brakes on GM products is 1967. All cars before this point in time had four wheel drum brakes. Disc brakes were introduced as an option from 1967-1972. Starting in the 1973 model year front disc brakes were standard and front drums were no longer available.
When disc brakes were developed so was the dual master cylinder, so all 1967 and newer cars had dual masters. Disc brakes required different pressures so the master was divided into two halves to provide pressure to the front and rear separately. This also meant that if a front line blew out the car would still have pressure to the rear brakes and vise versa.
The proporsioning valve controls the pressure to each end and keeps the balance. If the rear had more braking % it would spin the car out.
We got a new car every year in the 60's and 70's when I grew up and I remember the first Chevelles we got with the disc.
I also owned a 68 SS 396 Chevelle myself with 4 wheel drum and no power. I guess after owning that is why I did not panic much when I had the start up brake issue with the HHR SS. When the pedal was hard it felt a lot like my old Chevelle. Stopping in that car was a thrill from over 100 MPH at the track. I did add a power booster later and it made it better but still it not great.
My 63 Ford had the single reservoir and it failed on me one night. I got it home on the E brake and got it fixed. Good thing it had a good e brake.
Moderator
Joined: 01-23-2009
Posts: 26,536
From: Fredericksburg,VA
Seems like everybody is agreeing with me, but nobody wants to admit it!
Bottom line: Do not top off the brake fluid reservoir, unless you happen to know what you are doing. If you are a "soccer mom" or "casual driver"; you should never allow anyone to "top off" the master cylinder, go to a brake shop if somebody says that tyhe fluid is low.! In cars made in the 2000's the fluid level "means something".
Bottom line: Do not top off the brake fluid reservoir, unless you happen to know what you are doing. If you are a "soccer mom" or "casual driver"; you should never allow anyone to "top off" the master cylinder, go to a brake shop if somebody says that tyhe fluid is low.! In cars made in the 2000's the fluid level "means something".
Platinum Member
Joined: 01-09-2007
Posts: 16,081
From: SE USA
Hyper-
"My 63 Ford had the single reservoir and it failed on me one night. I got it home on the E brake and got it fixed. Good thing it had a good e brake".
One of my 'beater' Chevy Vegas had 'no brakes' but I still drove it around town using the E-Brake only.. Crazy youth..
donbrew-
Ok, I agree with you..
"My 63 Ford had the single reservoir and it failed on me one night. I got it home on the E brake and got it fixed. Good thing it had a good e brake".
One of my 'beater' Chevy Vegas had 'no brakes' but I still drove it around town using the E-Brake only.. Crazy youth..
donbrew-
Ok, I agree with you..
Senior Member
Joined: 07-05-2008
Posts: 5,464
From: Akron Ohio
Hyper-
"My 63 Ford had the single reservoir and it failed on me one night. I got it home on the E brake and got it fixed. Good thing it had a good e brake".
One of my 'beater' Chevy Vegas had 'no brakes' but I still drove it around town using the E-Brake only.. Crazy youth..
donbrew-
Ok, I agree with you..
"My 63 Ford had the single reservoir and it failed on me one night. I got it home on the E brake and got it fixed. Good thing it had a good e brake".
One of my 'beater' Chevy Vegas had 'no brakes' but I still drove it around town using the E-Brake only.. Crazy youth..
donbrew-
Ok, I agree with you..
I twice backed a car up in reverse to the transmission shop for a co worker. The car only had reverse and the shop was a couple miles away. It was a quiet neighborhood and I just took my time. Or the night we ran out of gas in my buddies tow truck and I got in the car being towed and used the gas to pust the tow truck he was steering to the gas station.
There are other things but the statutes of limitations are not up yet.
Platinum Member
Joined: 01-09-2007
Posts: 16,081
From: SE USA
you would not believe some of the things we did with cars and still do at times.
There are other things but the statutes of limitations are not up yet.
I know what ya mean, surprised at the stuff we got away with..
There are other things but the statutes of limitations are not up yet.
I know what ya mean, surprised at the stuff we got away with..
Platinum Member
Joined: 04-09-2006
Posts: 7,043
From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
LOL - like we never plugged a front brake line with a bolt on an old mid-50's Lincoln as the brake cyl was totally shot - just had to do massive counter steering when applying the brake.
- like we NEVER emptied old car batteries on the gas station garage floor to clean the greasy concrete, then rinsed it down the storm drain. Nope, never did that.
Crazy stupid stuff. :-)
- like we NEVER emptied old car batteries on the gas station garage floor to clean the greasy concrete, then rinsed it down the storm drain. Nope, never did that.
Crazy stupid stuff. :-)
Senior Member
Joined: 07-05-2008
Posts: 5,464
From: Akron Ohio
LOL - like we never plugged a front brake line with a bolt on an old mid-50's Lincoln as the brake cyl was totally shot - just had to do massive counter steering when applying the brake.
- like we NEVER emptied old car batteries on the gas station garage floor to clean the greasy concrete, then rinsed it down the storm drain. Nope, never did that.
Crazy stupid stuff. :-)
- like we NEVER emptied old car batteries on the gas station garage floor to clean the greasy concrete, then rinsed it down the storm drain. Nope, never did that.
Crazy stupid stuff. :-)