Brake pedal soft

parkerm

My car has been on jack stands most of the past year while I did repairs. Can one of you tell me why my brake pedal has gone soft over this period? This happened once before while I had the car off the road for repairs. I bled the system and got a nice firm pedal with good stopping power. Now I notice that the pedal is half way down; it is still stopping the car, but I am worried about it. What is happening to cause this? I don't see any leaking fluid. What do I need to do to fix this?

Thanks,

Marvin

Uncle Josh

If your pedal is that far down and still stopping, you may be snagging the Hudson safety emergency brake system.  Better check all the wheel cylinders, lines and the master.

Lance

There is a leak somewhere. The fun begins when you have to find out where. Air is entering in make no mistake.

RichardD

Another thing about a remote reservoir: you can see instantly if the level drops.

parkerm

Okay guys, I know what I have to do. Thanks for the help.

Lee ODell

Your brake fluid is going somewhere. I have found many brakes not showing signs of leaks but the brake cylinder end rubber dust covers full of brake fluid when I pull the lip back. Same with master cyllinder.

For those converted to disc brakes the remote reservoir is a good indicator when to change disc brake pads when the reservoir get real low. The brake fluid is not leaking but filling up the brake caliper bore as the pads wear the piston moves toward the rotor. When changing pads the piston is pushed back into the caliper and the fluid is pushed back into the reservoir full mark. If you make the mistake of adding fluid as the level keeps dropping you will have a mess on your hands when you push the piston back in caliper and all the fluid you have added will spill out of remote reservoir.

Lee ODell

When I bought my Hornet I drove it home with low pedal. It was about 5 hr drive home then check brake fluid. Bone dry. It had a rusted through brake line from master cyl. to the rear end. Thank goodness for the secondary brake system on Hudsons. It stopped very good with just mechanical rear brakes. To bad all cars do not have that safety feature. I replaced brake lines with new ones. Just to be on the safe side I replaced all the brake hardware, shoes, wheel cyl. and master cylinder.
Lee O'Dell

parkerm

It seems that I need to replace the master and wheel cylinders and brake lines. I see someone is selling those parts on E-bay for about $230.00. Do any of you know if that is a trustworthy set?

Per

Parkerem,

     Even just one wheel cylinder getting some air in it is enough to give you a low pedal.  I was once very surprised to have some air come out of a wheel cylinder when I was bleeding brakes that had been working well for a long time but with a somewhat low pedal.  The pedal was then high.  (This was not a Hudson, so there was not the possibility of having the mechanical system working). 

     You might try bleeding all the wheels, paying attention to whether any air comes out.  If it comes out of just one wheel cylinder, and the pedal height is restored, you could just replace the one wheel cylinder.  

Per

parkerm

Thanks Per I appreciate the information. I will look for that.