hagen454

Last night I went for a ride to decompress after a day with the kids. I pulled out of the driveway and the first time I hit the brakes the pedal felt like a rock. I had to use both feet to stop the car. This happened the first time I drove the car. The brakes were hard and about a 1/4 mile down the road they started working fine and have not had a problem until now. Any ideas where to start?

SteveG

I'm guessing your car is an '83? Just a bump and a hint.

hagen454

Yes it is an 83.

AO

I'm guessing this happened immediately upon start up and the car had sat for a long time previous to this run?

My guess is that the vacuum booster wasn't working or you didn't have enough vacuum in the resevoir to have it "kick in" thus making them feel rock hard. Once you developed enough vacuum, everything was fine.

jpitman2

Sounds like some vacuum (one way) valves need checking? Also, pedals can go hard and unresponsive if leaking fluid accumualtes inside the booster and fills it up so the diaphragm cant move. Unlickely if the problem cleared, but worth checking - pull the hose fitting and valve off the booster body, slip a piece of wire or semi rgid plastic down towards the bottom of the booster chamber and withdraw - should not be more the smallest amount of fluid on the bottom, else look into getting the m/cyl overhauled soon.
jp 83 Euro S AT 51k

hagen454

Thanks for the tips on where to start. Seeing that the problem did not rectify itself this time I am leaning towards the booster or a vac. leak. Hope to get to it on Mon. Thanks again as I have not yet worked on the break system. I can however read the flow charts and know the wire harness like a champ after a SMALL electrical fire when I first got the car. (NEVER START THE CAR WITHOUT THE GAUGE CLUSTER PLUGGED IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)