Steve Semeraro wrote:
>
> I've been having brake problems...(snip) Leave the car a few days and the
> fluid is real low and the pedal has gotten real soft. Top up the fluid
> and drive around. Pedal is soft, but stops the car. Fluid stays where
> it is. Let the car sit for 8 hours and the fluid is back down again.
.... My local station... first suggested that the problem was that I
needed new rotors... But now they say I need new calipers. Is this a
likely
> cause or are they just switching parts? If I do need new calipers how
> hard are they to rebuild? Do most folks use rebuild kits or buy rebuilt
> units? Many thanks in advance for any advice.
>
> Steve Semeraro
> Series V Alpine
> 1968 Marcos GT
Hi Steve, the Sunbeam brake system is pretty simple and all that brake
fluid is going somewhere: you have to find it to find your problem. It
could indeed be your calipers, check to see if fluid is leaking around
the pistons onto your wheels. If the pistons are pitted, pushing them
back in the bore with new pads or rotors can put them onto a spot that
they won't seal against. This happened to me this summer: new pads
brought a sudden leak, and it isn't in a very visible spot. A rebuild on
the old calipers (and new pistons) worked fine.
Other places to look: master cylinder, brake light switch, wheel
cylinders, power brake booster (if so equipped): basically carefully
trace the lines. Fortunately brake fluid doesn't evaporate so there is a
wet spot somewhere on your car there shouldn't be one. By Murphys Law it
will be under something very large and awkward to move.
Good luck
Michael McBeth
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