replacing the master cylinder

[peepers]

my brakes have been soft for a while now, i have had them bled by toyota, cruiser solutions and our very own nat. still soft.

so i did my research... read lots about pumping the pedal to build pressure then, if it fades, its the master cylinder. so, that is on its way from toyota. is this an easy one banana job?

i dont have a drive way or garage so i will most likely have to bring it someplace.... is this plug and play for any normal mechanic?

 

[KLF]

Pretty much. They can be rebuilt, but it's unlikely a a shop will wanna mess with that. Only cheap bastids like myself will do that.

Hardest part of the swap is getting it fully bench bled. I have a nifty kit for doing it. Make sure they also liberally wash off any brake fluid that spills under the hood, otherwise it will eat off your paint.

Just curious... did you try pressure bleeding?

 

[peepers]

i did not try pressure bleeding ken... i am just at my wits end with this soft brake pedal. i am going to look into the FSM tonight and see what is involved. the pedal is soft enough that it is a bit scary to drive and it is one of our go to vehicles now...

 

[KLF]

I honestly don't know if pressure bleeding will make any difference, but it is very useful for making sure all air is out of the system. But it sounds to me like you have a leaking MC. A quick hone and a new cup kit will probably fix it, but you're on the right track, if that is the problem.

 

[Cattledog]

my brakes have been soft for a while now, i have had them bled by toyota, cruiser solutions and our very own nat. still soft.

so i did my research... read lots about pumping the pedal to build pressure then, if it fades, its the master cylinder. so, that is on its way from toyota. is this an easy one banana job?

i dont have a drive way or garage so i will most likely have to bring it someplace.... is this plug and play for any normal mechanic?

Peepers, Bleeding a master cylinder is no big deal. That said, you have an antilock brake actuator on your truck too. That can be a real PITA to bleed correctly if full of air. It would be a two person job unless you have a pressure bleeder system or vacuum bleed system. I would suggest the pressure bleed system. I would not consider this a single banana job if you have never done this type of work. I would also check the brake line pressure before ripping into the MC. Are you able to push the brake all the way to the floor if given long enough? If not sounds like you still have air in the line.

 

[40Flipper]

I have a heated garage you can use if it's a one day thing. Rent is one bottle of nice wine (under $20) Even has a urinal. I'm in Millis. Randy lives right up the street so we can guilt him into doing it for you. (Sorry Randy)

 

[landtank]

I should have checked the pedal out when you were up here last. We don't see a lot of MC going bad on the 80s but that doesn't mean your's doesn't need to be replaced.

As always I'm more than happy to help you out. I'm off all next week.

 

[82cruiser]

I have a heated garage you can use if it's a one day thing. Rent is one bottle of nice wine (under $20) Even has a urinal. I'm in Millis. Randy lives right up the street so we can guilt him into doing it for you. (Sorry Randy)

Can't compete with your in-garage bidet, but I'm in the low rent district requiring only two cans of Guinness.

 

[JJS]

Soft pedal or low pedal? Are you sure it's not worn rear brakes?

 

[peepers]

Peepers, Bleeding a master cylinder is no big deal. That said, you have an antilock brake actuator on your truck too. That can be a real PITA to bleed correctly if full of air. It would be a two person job unless you have a pressure bleeder system or vacuum bleed system. I would suggest the pressure bleed system. I would not consider this a single banana job if you have never done this type of work. I would also check the brake line pressure before ripping into the MC. Are you able to push the brake all the way to the floor if given long enough? If not sounds like you still have air in the line.

have not tried it for that long... can there really be air in the line having gone through 3 different bleedings? the guys in NH said they bled the hell out of it and there is no air.

I have a heated garage you can use if it's a one day thing. Rent is one bottle of nice wine (under $20) Even has a urinal. I'm in Millis. Randy lives right up the street so we can guilt him into doing it for you. (Sorry Randy)

we are working on landcruisers arent we? not MGs? that means beer, not wine, right?

I should have checked the pedal out when you were up here last. We don't see a lot of MC going bad on the 80s but that doesn't mean your's doesn't need to be replaced.

As always I'm more than happy to help you out. I'm off all next week.

rick, i am thinking of taking a personal day next thursday. hopefully the parts will be in by then. having said that, i need to spend the morning at lou's custom ehaust getting that 3" virtual straight pipe toned down a bit for my drive x-country. i need to get the new O2 sensors in and have it quieted down.

Soft pedal or low pedal? Are you sure it's not worn rear brakes?

the rear brakes are new less than 10k ago (OEM rotors and pads) and with the new 4" lift, i bet they are even getting less pressure than they should.

this is something i can't do alone, in the street with 16" os snow and ice on the ground?

 

[40Flipper]

Can't compete with your in-garage bidet, but I'm in the low rent district requiring only two cans of Guinness.

I have a keg-o-rator built into my bar so getting beer is like bringing sand to the beach.

 

[40Flipper]

we are working on landcruisers arent we? not MGs? that means beer, not wine, right?


Wine is the rent. Free Bud out of the Keg-o-rator plus garage heat included in the cost of rent.

 

[landtank]

rick, i am thinking of taking a personal day next thursday. hopefully the parts will be in by then. having said that, i need to spend the morning at lou's custom ehaust getting that 3" virtual straight pipe toned down a bit for my drive x-country. i need to get the new O2 sensors in and have it quieted down.:

I'm stopping by Lou's next week as well. I'm hoping for something along the same lines as stock as far as sound goes as well. My Borla is already too loud and I wouldn't be able to hear it next to your's if it was running.

The one thing on my truck that I've found for this is stuck slide pins in the rear calipers. The pins hold the caliper out, away from the pads and you need to make up that distance before anything begins to happen. I actually have a brand new pin at the house because one had seized and broke off just before the spring meeting.

This is one of those things that Ted's guys might have missed as it's a rear disc issue and not found on older trucks.

 

[peepers]

The one thing on my truck that I've found for this is stuck slide pins in the rear calipers. The pins hold the caliper out, away from the pads and you need to make up that distance before anything begins to happen. I actually have a brand new pin at the house because one had seized and broke off just before the spring meeting.

This is one of those things that Ted's guys might have missed as it's a rear disc issue and not found on older trucks.

iiiiiiiiiiiiinteresting...

 

[landtank]

iiiiiiiiiiiiinteresting...

I had a soft pedal so I replaced both rear calipers with NAPA rebuilds along with the rotors and pads. The rebuilds were nice as they came with new slide pins and associated rubber boots to keep the crap out of where the slide pins slide.

 

[KLF]

You're welcome to use my pressure bleeder. But you gotta let me know before Sunday, when I leave for a week. You'll have to come up to Salem to get it, though.

 

[peepers]

You're welcome to use my pressure bleeder. But you gotta let me know before Sunday, when I leave for a week. You'll have to come up to Salem to get it, though.

thanks for the offer ken. i will be in st. louis and cant get up there. i trust you are going on vacation? enjoy!

 

[nat88toy]

pete the master is a simple job and i can almost garentee that it is your problem go to toyota of wellesley and order a master and i will help you throw it in. by the way presure bleaders suck i have never had any luck with them the way nate and i showd you is the best in my humble opinion

 

[peepers]

Are you able to push the brake all the way to the floor if given long enough?

yes, it goes to the floor if i wait long enough. a new one is on the way from c-dan. i hope it gets here next week.

 

[Cattledog]

Glad to hear you have one on the way your old one is crap.

Nat, Why do you hate the pressure bleeder? It's a simple one man job, and low chance of running the MC dry.