Barry H. Adams wrote:
>
> A friend recently purchased a 72 Spitfire with less than 3k total miles!!
> Everything worked ok until about 2 weeks ago when the brake warning light
> came on. He checked for leaks and the functioning of the pwd valve and
> bled the system. No leaks were found and the pwd and the brakes seemed to
> function properly, but the light was still on. He then took the car to a
> K-Mart repair shop (big mistake) they said he needed a new master cylinder
> and returned the car to him with the brakes barely working at all (pedal
> would hold only momentarily and then slowly go to the floor).
>
> Since then he has bleed the brakes several times and has attempted to
> re-center the pwd valve. The brakes work ok for a short time, but then the
> sponginess returns to the pedal and the warning light comes on. There are
> no leaks in the system anywhere.
>
> Is this a MC problem? If not, any ideas on what he should do next?
>
> Barry H. Adams
> 74 Spitfire
Barry
Have your friend ck back w/Kmart. My guess is that Kameapar(kmart)has
probably serviced your friends brake dydtem w/DOT 3 fluid out of
ignorance of the special needs of LBC's. Most of the orignal seals in
the hydralic systems of our LBC's are natural rubber and do not respond
well to DOT3.
I've been there through my own ignorance and done that. I am currently
using CastrolGTLMA with very good results. Another facet to the problem
is rebuilt parts. Some have neoprene and some have rubber seals
depending on who and when the remfg was done.the GTLMA by Castrol is
compatible w/both and most other brake fluids.
You may be able to contain the damage by just rebuilding or replacing
the master cylinder but being the through person you are you have fallen
into the same predicament I did. By bleeding your system you have
probably spread the culprit through out the system.
I started with the Master cylinder with some success but eventually
replaced or rebuilt every cylinder with a seal in it.
Things are running smoothly now but what a nasty way to learn.
Best of Luck
Bill
78spit
80wedge
|