Had brakes but they had to go half way to stop

Tiny
CMC2603
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 FORD TAURUS
  • 3.0L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 275,000 MILES
I recently changed rear brakes and had to change wheel cylinder on driver side. The passenger side fluid was coming through the line low and slow. I had brakes but they had to go half way to stop (do to time and money) I had to go with it for the moment. Two days ago the cylinder I just bought pushed out one side causing it to lock down, eat the brakes and put me trying to find something to stop the car. Now I'm back to square one. Little fluid is coming through the pass side line. Master seems fine as far as leaks. No pinched lines and my grandfather who has been working on cars most of is life helps me bleed them. (He just says ask someone I don't know much on Ford's) Now I have a limited amount of money and little time to fix this. Any ideas? Thanks.
Friday, March 8th, 2019 AT 7:12 AM

6 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Good morning,

This sounds like low pressure from the master cylinder. The seals inside are most likely worn out.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-brake-master-cylinder

Roy
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Monday, April 5th, 2021 AT 11:50 AM
Tiny
CMC2603
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  • 4 POSTS
I changed the gasket in the cap because it was faulty and swollen, it wouldn't fit inside the cap and I needed to anyway so there's new brakes and new cylinders. Now there's more pressure but the passenger side is still not pushing as much fluid out when I bleed them and the brakes are building while the car is off and I'm still getting pressure on the hubs from the brake, but when I crank the car up I lose all the pedal absolutely no pressure. Now that I've went back over the link you provided I believe I just need to replace the master. I bought the car used with no way of knowing if it has been replaced and it has 274,325 miles on it.
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Monday, April 5th, 2021 AT 11:50 AM
Tiny
CMC2603
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Update: I was recently told that it may be the ABS system but the ABS light hasn't came on and I was told that it may not matter if the light was on or not. Now I feel more confused.
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Monday, April 5th, 2021 AT 11:50 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
The fact that the gasket was swollen tells me someone put the wrong fluid in the system.

That means that every piece of rubber in the brake system has to be replaced and the system flushed.

This means master cylinder, ABS hydraulic unit, wheel cylinders, both of them, and all the brake hoses.

If you do not then the residual contaminated fluid will destroy all the seals on the replacement parts.

Roy
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Monday, April 5th, 2021 AT 11:50 AM
Tiny
CMC2603
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Thank you for the help. I realized I was putting dot4 and it calls for dot3 in it. Originally I didn't realize the reservoir had a small crack around the seem also. Thanks again.
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Monday, April 5th, 2021 AT 11:50 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Mixing the dot 3 and 4 is okay.

Someone put power steering fluid or engine oil in the brake system. Petroleum is what causes the seals to swell like that.

Roy
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Monday, April 5th, 2021 AT 11:50 AM

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