Reservoir fluid level is good. It was a little low last week (3/16" / 4.8mm from top) but topping it off has shown no different results.
It is going to be above freezing this weekend (finally!) and I will be taking the tires off to look at stuff - any ideas as to what I should look close at and what can be disregarded?
tia paul
Providing you have checked pads and drums to make sure nothing is worn out, my first guess would be balooning brake lines since your not dumping fluid. You will need someone to push down on the brakes as you examine all the soft lines for any swelling or leaks. Your going to have to go over the whole system from master cyl to brake cyl and check every connection for leaking.
Double-check all flexible brake hoses, although this will be an exercise: if one was defective causing a drop in hydraulic pressure, it would have burst a long time ago.
More likely, you have a failed master cylinder, likely the back half. The light you're seeing comes from a switch in the proportioning valve, indicating partial hydraulic failure. It's possible that you may have a dry reservoir causing this, and if that's the case (check the brake fluid levels to confirm), then you have a leak downstream somewhere, and you need to find and repair it before someone gets hurt.
You don't sound too sure of your answer there, Billie.
Maybe you'd better google some more......
I concur with the master cylinder thought. My '91 had a similar issue and this was the problem. when fully stopped put moderate pressure on the pedal, enough to stop pretty quick if you were to be moving. Then keep the presure on and see if the pedal slowly creaps (fades) towards the floor. If you are not leaking fluid anywhere I would certainly suspect the master cylinder
Matt
Rear cylinders were leaking....... air got in and things were cushy.
Thanks for the tips.
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