<VV> Brakes - where did the air come from?

[kovacsmj]

What you may need is a new or rebuilt master cylinder. I have found this
problem on my '69 Nova which had the same type MC. The fluid leaks past
one part of the piston in the MC into the other. This lets one reservoir
pump into the other. This makes one part of the dual system less
effective that the other. I don't know the reason for the air.

Getting all the information is most of the solution.
 
MIKE KOVACS
 

-----Original Message-----
From: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org
[mailto:virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org] On Behalf Of Doug Mackintosh
Sent: Monday, May 30, 2005 1:28 PM
To: Virtual Vairs
Subject: <VV> Brakes - where did the air come from?

My daughter's Spyder has had excellent brakes, a high
firm pedal, no problems since we rebuilt the system in
2000.  At that time we installed a dual master
cylinder.  In the last few weeks it has started
acting like there is air in the lines.  When first
applying brakes, the pedal is low (but the brakes work
OK).  Pumping them brings the pedal up higher.  There
is no evidence of a leak, and the pedal does not sink
toward the floor when pressure is maintained on the
pedal. 
I opened the master cylinder and found that the
rear reservoir (for the front brakes) was overflowing,
and the front reservoir (for the rear brakes) was low
by about the same amount.   When we bled the
brakes we got plenty of air out, and a better pedal. 


1) Where is the air coming from?
2) How did the fluid get high in one reservoir and low
in the other?

Thanks 

-- Doug Mackintosh