Sudden brake failure

It could be the problem, or you could have ruptured a hose, or had a leaky seal in a caliper or the master cylinder. Basically you need to get the car up in the air and check it out.

nate

Are the brakes working now, or are they still not working? Did the pedal go to the floor with no resistance, or was there pressure on the pedal but no braking?

No, the brakes still aren't working and the pedal went right to floor with no resistance.

We had the car towed to the Ford dealer and they discovered that the brake line was rusted out. They thought the car had been in an accident, because something (the line, perhaps) was badly bent. They think that at some point, earlier, something may have kicked up underneath the car and bent this item and the the sudden braking was the final straw.

They had to get a new line from another state. Isn't that odd? Wouldn't they have that in stock for a '98 Taurus or be able to get one from another local dealer? Anyway, they said that the rusting may end up involving the master cylinder, as well.

I appreciate the response. My neighbor told us how to replace the line as he's skilled in that area, and was ribbing us about chickening out and having the car towed to the dealer. I told him that my husband and I shouldn't attempt fixing anything that goes 70mph, since we couldn't even fix our broken screen door last week.

KC (about to be pooer, but safer)

Not unusual at all. Rigid brake lines last FOREVER in most parts of the country and they're not a high-volume replacement item, so they're not peppered throughout the dealer network like normal wear items (eg, water pumps, alternators) would be.

This is one reason why you should change your brake fluid every couple of years. Brake fluid absorbs moisture in the air and then the water starts to rust the iron parts from the inside out.

--------------- Alex

plus, most people just bend the straight generic line as needed.