Whoa brake woes

[Doogiedoogster000000]

I only drive my 1996 burb 2500 on the weekends. I had a weird day with the brakes today.

First the pedal got mushy but didn't cause much drama. Now I can push the brakes to the floor and the brake warning light kicks on. It always stopped but not as quick as I'd like as I limped it home.

PS fluid was low, I topped it off. No change. I just swapped shocks and the front pads and calipers look fine.

What should I be checking out? My brake experience is swapping pads and rotors.

Thanks

 

[evilunclegrimace]

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Is the master cylinder still full in BOTH sides of the fluid reservoir? Look for leaks at all connections, rusted out lines, leaking wheel cylinders, front and rear rubber lines for swelling and possibly a failed master cylinder.

 

[RichLo]

^ +1 to everything you said except he said the fluid was low and he re-filled.

Your losing fluid somewhere. Was one of the two chambers in the reservoir completely empty or lower than the other?

 

[evilunclegrimace]

^ +1 to everything you said except he said the fluid was low and he re-filled.

Your losing fluid somewhere. Was one of the two chambers in the reservoir completely empty or lower than the other?

He said the PS fluid was low which doesn't have anything to do with the brakes so I am not sure why he included that tidbit

 

[RichLo]

PS = Post Script

Similar to BTW

 

[evilunclegrimace]

PS = Post Script

Similar to BTW

Now we be getting all fancy an uppity wit the riten.
I have not seen any one use "post script" in a very long time.

 

[PlayingWithTBI]

Now we be getting all fancy an uppity wit the riten.
I have not seen any one use "post script" in a very long time.

Ha Ha! Plus I thought you use a colon after the Post Script - like PS:

Oh well, like my Evil Uncle says check wheel cylinders - pull the drums and look, I wouldn't drive it again until I found the smoking gun...

 

[Mark Gilbert]

Actually I thought he was referring to power steering because he has a 2500 and may have hydroboost brakes which run off of the power steering pump...

 

[evilunclegrimace]

Actually I thought he was referring to power steering because he has a 2500 and may have hydroboost brakes which run off of the power steering pump...

Low P/S fluid will not cause a mushy pedal. the P/S system only provides Power to assist the pedal.

 

[Mark Gilbert]

Low P/S fluid will not cause a mushy pedal. the P/S system only provides Power to assist the pedal.

True, but he also said it made no change, which we wouldn't expect it would.

I was just saying I thought he meant power steering by PS instead of Post Script.