IML: Brake Fluid Maintenance & Imperial Sedans

[randalpark@xxxxxxx]

Imperial Sedans were once again built for 1967, 1968, and 1969.

Any car that is not in regular use is subject to unexpected failures. 
Brake failure is common, so it is always recommended that fluid levels 
and system functionality be checked before moving the gear selector 
into DRIVE. If intuition says that the brakes don't feel right, DO NOT 
DRIVE THE CAR. Turn it off and check the fluid level. If the level 
isn't low, and the brakes don't feel right, the car shouldn't be driven 
until the source of trouble is discovered and corrected.

A common cause of sudden brake failure such as this would be a split 
front brake hose. These hoses move around with the front wheels via 
suspension and steering maneuvers. If they are brittle, a split is 
likely and will allow the fluid to leak. Having a dual reservoir m/c 
should prevent total brake failure under this scenario. In fact, if 
rear brakes are in top shape, loss of the front brake system may not be 
obvious. This actually is a very dangerous thing since the driver may 
continue running the car without any idea that something is very wrong. 
Later systems incorporate a warning light to alert the driver of a lack 
of system pressure.

The most common cause of this in old cars is insufficient fluid in the 
reservoir due to gradual seepage from old parts which have not totally 
failed. A casual inspection of the braking system may not reveal this. 
That is why regular inspection of the fluid level itself is VITAL. 
Inspecting the fluid level regularly will indicate a gradual leak or a 
sudden leak which can be diagnosed prior to driving the car, and 
possibly finding out about it the hard way. I had an experience with 
someone who never checked their brake fluid, suddenly had no brakes, 
discovered a dry m/c, but couldn't find the leak. It turned out the 
leak was a slow leaking wheel cylinder. The brake failure could have 
been prevented by monitoring the fluid level and seeking out the 
offending wheel cylinder.

Paul W.

-----Original Message-----
From: twolaneblacktop@xxxxxxxxxxx
To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sat, 6 Jan 2007 11:14 PM
Subject: IML: '68 brakes - Worked fine one day, next time pedal to the 
floor...

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) - WA State Vanity 
Plates: FIT4AQN

twolaneblacktop@xxxxxxxxxxx [Image Removed]




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