The whole point of dual circuit brakes is that if one circuit fails the
other should give some stopping ability. According to the books the rear
reservoir supplies the front brakes, and the front reservoir the rear. So
with the apparent loss of the rear brakes *only* you should hardly have
noticed any difference, which implies you lost the fronts, in not both. The
second symptom of loss of a circuit is a longer pedal, but not so long it
hits the firewall (or what would be the point?).
The only reason master cylinders should need topping up is as the pads and
shoes wear, and the pads and pistons gradually move out of their own accord,
and you adjust the rear shoes and handbrake which likewise allows the slave
pistons to be at rest further out. An empty reservoir implies a major leak,
which is one problem, and brake fluid dries, even if it falls in a visible
place.
On a dual circuit system the brake lights are operated directly from
movement of the pedal, which has no bearing on whether operation of the
pedal develops hydraulic pressure to apply the brakes or not.
It what you are telling us is correct, I'd say the master seal for the front
circuit is highly suspect, sometimes sealing and sometimes not, which would
be a second problem. That, with an empty rear reservoir, could explain the
first 'pedal to the floor', but not the second unless *both* master seals
were failing, which would be a third problem. It would be a heck of a
coincidence for both to exhibit the same failure mode so close together ...
unless the rear circuit isn't working at all and you have been driving for
ages on the fronts only.
Remember the adage "Just because you have discovered one problem, don't
assume you have discovered the only problem".
PaulH.
----- Original Message -----
> ...Backed her out, hit the brakes and the pedal went to the metal!
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