Brake question

The brake system on my '88 seems to have gone horseshit. When I got it, it literally had to brake pads left.. all the way to the rivets. So I just thought from normal wear.. so I replaced those. Well, had a guy that was going to buy it, so I wanted to drive it around and make sure it was road worthy to go the 200 miles. I drove it for abouut 15 mins and took off thhe pass wheel and noticed a lot of heat. Looked at the rotor and it had 2 cracks from the center all the way to the edge. Brought it to the parts store and they said its shot, from heat. The brakes are not disengaging, more so on the pass side anyway. To me this would mean I would have to go through the whole front brakes and rebuild it or whatever. Am I correct? If so, what am I looking at? Is it really something that a fairly inexperienced person should tackle, or bite the bullet and have a professional do it? As it is I will be replacing both rotors, but not until I get the brake system fixed. Any help would be beneficial. I did notice that the flex hoses are cracked in a couple places, and I remember a couple people saying to get those replaced. What do you guys think? Am I looking at a lot of money either way if I do it or if a pro does it?

Reply to
KITT
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If the brakes stay engaged, most times, you have bad front brake hoses. They rot from the inside out and act as check valves, keeping the brakes engaged.

A couple of bucks at any parts store. Common item. Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 27k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 143k and still going.... '91 S10 Blazer 4.3Z

Reply to
Bigjfig

So meaning those black bendable hoses from the caliper to inside the engine bay? I would Imagine I would have to bleed the brakes completely to take them off.. anything else.. or anything to watch out for.. tools needed.. etc? Thanks

Reply to
KITT

Hopefully the parts stores have them.. I'll be damned if I have to go to a dealership to TRY to get a part again.. LOL

Reply to
KITT

On Tue, 10 Aug 2004 15:16:42 GMT, "KITT" puked:

Exactly. The dealership is where you buy CARS, not PARTS!

-- lab~rat >:-) Do you want polite or do you want sincere?

Reply to
lab~rat

Oh I don't know, I kind of enjoy your horror stories when you go try to buy parts from a dealership!! Seriously, good luck with those brakes,

Terry

Reply to
Terry

LOL.. gee.. thanks for the ego boost man.. lol. Yeah, the car is needed more and more work as I do one project.. If it doesn't get sold before fall, its going back in the garage till next summer when I plan a full tear down and see what I am getting into. It would be nice to see it not as bad as I am thinking, but I HIGHLY doubt it now.... The joys of cars. :)

Reply to
KITT

Well since it looks like fall will be here soon (at least in Wisconsin), putting the car in the garage and making it a winter project might make sense. BTW I think I told you about my Camaro engine issues, well I decided to bring out the credit card and have my 383 prof. rebuilt from scratch, and also convert from an auto to a muncie 4 speed. It will take all winter for me to make payments on this setup but I think it'll be worth it...I'll post a link to some pics when I get the car back & running--- Terry

Reply to
Terry

What is that going to set you back? And unfortunately I can't make it a winter project as it is 200 miles from where I will be.. it will have to be a Summer project. But good luck with the new setup.

Reply to
KITT

Around 6K, with removal, reinstallation, magnafluxing the block, boring, reassembly, dyno testing, fine tuning, transmission conversion w/ pedals, linkage, etc etc. I think it's a fair deal but I'm going to be in debt this winter....

That's right you did say your car is 200 miles from you-- keep us posted on your progress! Terry

Reply to
Terry

If you and the ex are on such good terms:

And the car is in "her" garage. Don't you think it's time to park your ass there too?

LOL

I wish I could with my ex?

Refinish King

Reply to
Refinish King

Lol... yeah.. well.. looks like we will be getting back together.. shes buying a new set of rotors for the 'Bird next week and possibly the flex hoses for it as well. We agreed when I bought it that it was going to be OUR car that we both were going to buy it.. well.. not counting the original $1,500 for the car, I've put over $700 into it.. and she hasn't put anything into it.. so she said its time she did. :) I won't argue!. But we both are going to be at school in Platteville for the year, and I'm hoping to get an internship in that area( Waupaca, Wi) for the summer so that we can tear it apart then. I spent the last week and a half there getting the 'bird up to snuff to DRIVE it the 200 miles to the meeting place that the guy said he would buy it at. So I worked on it a little, shined it up.. drove it around a little to make sure it was good to go, then he goes and says "Well, I've thought it over, and its not worth that, so we don't have a deal" I was REALLY upset.. so if anyone trys dealing with Josh Jenkins from Grand Rapids, MN --Please beware.

Reply to
KITT

I always say, if the woman buys new rotors, that means she is getting back together with you!!! Sorry to hear about your deadbeat buyer, sometimes it is just a matter of finding a person who is looking for exactly what you are selling..takes time.

Terry

PS Good luck at UW-Platteville (I am a teacher at UW-River Falls)

Reply to
Terry

Good luck!

Refinish King

Reply to
Refinish King

Network and get him some good grades!

LOL

Refinish King

Reply to
Refinish King

(Confidential to Refinish King): Yeah really, if he doesn't graduate college he might just end up working in the parts department of an auto dealership....better stay in school!!!

Reply to
Terry

I know a lot of parts men:

Making a lot more than I did, with salary plus commission.

Refinish King

PS I know a couple of college grads that are parts delivery persons.

Reply to
Refinish King

Well, I know I would be better at it than a coupe of unnamed people

Reply to
KITT

Good and bad parts people, just like there are good and bad in all teachers, lawyers, doctors, appliance people, etc.

Terry: I work in automotive on the white collar/office side, and I have an MBA. I can run circles around some parts guys doing the job for 20 years :).

(And I know them all, not just GM :) ).

Most dealership guys are incompetent due to their own knowledge, has nothing to do with their education per se. Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 27k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 143k and still going.... '91 S10 Blazer 4.3Z

Reply to
Bigjfig

Believe me, they aint worth going back to. If it didn't work in the first place, that means it won't work again. You can't fix a woman like you can a car.

Heck if it was like clearing a OBD-1 car, I would still be with the first or second one. Charles If I carved notches in my headboard, I would have nothing but shavings left.

Reply to
Charles Bendig

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