RE: IML: '68 brakes - Worked fine one day, next time pedal to the floor...

["Ken Lang" <ken@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I always find it a good idea to check all fluid levels before starting the
car.  This would include oil, transmission fluid, coolant, power steering
fluid and brake fluid. And if your battery is not the sealed type, it's a
good idea to check the water level before starting.  Especially on cars that
may sit for several weeks at a time w/o moving.

The rear drums on a 68 just slide off once the wheel is removed.  And don't
forget, the wheel lugs are left hand thread on the left side of the car.

Ken
67 Crown 4 Dr Ht
68 LeBaron 4 Dr Ht


________________________________________
From: mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Peter Baikie
Sent: Sunday, January 07, 2007 2:03 AM
To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: IML: '68 brakes - Worked fine one day, next time pedal to the
floor...

I bet there is no fluid in the master cylinder. top it up & refit cap . pump
pedal slowly & I bet your pedal comes back  , then start looking for a wet
spot on the backing plates or calipers.
If it looks a little wet at the bottom of the rear backing plates...... Its
time to pull the rear drums, seals are cheap for wheel cylinders but the
bore needs to bet pit free.
Do the drums just slide off on a 68 ? or is it big puller time.






On 07/01/2007, at 6:14 PM, twolaneblacktop wrote:


Greetings all,
 
Happy New Year to all!  I hope things are going well for everyone so far.
 
As some of you may know, I recently acquired a ?68 Crown 4dr hardtop (did
they make the sedan in ?68?) from Kate Triplett.  The car in pretty decent
shape actually, needs some TLC, but nothing really major.  I had driven the
car previously for a sale to a gentleman who did not follow through.  I was
really impressed with it at the time and said so.
 
The car does have the Budd disk brakes and in all my experience with this
car previously, they worked swell, stopped strait, and I did have the
rotors, calipers checked soon after buying the car by my mechanic who is
familiar with them.  We planned on keeping a close eye on the pads and
replacing them when needed.  When I say needed, I mean very conservatively
so, as to never jeopardize the integrity of the disks or rotors.
 
I had been driving the car about recently and all seemed well until about 2
weeks ago.  I got in the car one day and fired her up.  I put my foot on the
brake to put the car in neutral as I always do with a Torqueflite.  The
pedal went almost to the floor, or so it seemed, but I just thought it was
me, as it is not my daily driver.  The car stopped at the gate to my condo
garage, but the pedal was pretty much to the floor.  I then became very
cautious and pulled out onto an empty street and took her up to about 20 mph
and put on the brakes.  The pedal went strait to the floor.  Thunk!  The car
did stop, but pumping did not help, and I turned her around and got her back
into the garage right away, my left foot on the parking brake the whole
way?just in case.

 
As I just had the brakes checked and all seemed well, could this be due to a
wheel cylinder (or two) that suddenly started leaking?  I am baffled and
don?t have funds to fix it at present.  I put this out to you all for your
input as to what may be the cause.  If anyone has had a similar experience,
please let me know.  The wheel cylinders are rebuild-able, are they not? 
 
This is my first Imperial with the Budd disks and they make me nervous. 
Yeah, probably do work better than four drum brakes, but at least I knew
what to expect with those!  LOL!  This will be a new learning experience for
me.  The car is otherwise very solid and smooth riding, quiet, except for
the exhaust leak.
 
Thanks.  Mikey Sutton and Dick B., please feel free to jump in at any time!
 
Bill
 
 
Wm. R. Ulman
Seattle, WA  
'68 Imperial Crown 4 dr. Hardtop (Miss Lucille Ball)



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