brakes

[OrionBrazeal]

took the 79 in to get inspection done and they told me that the brakes are not strong enough. they said to replace the master cylinder. I am wondering what all parts I need to replace for this. if its just the master cylinder or also the brake power booster or if I just need some little rebuild kit?

[my86gt]

i would do both booster and master cylinder

[foureyedcoupe]

What do they mean by not strong enough? Does the car stop ok for you? As far as which part to change, a booster will not generally make the car stop any better or worse, it will usually change your pedal feel. Either way both parts are usually inexpensive and not hard at all to change.

[OrionBrazeal]

well the brakes dont respond untill the pedal is almost to the floor

[VIC]

well the brakes dont respond untill the pedal is almost to the floor
Maybe they just need to be bled. If you are stopped and hold the brake down does it slowly sink to the floor? Normally when a master cylinder goes out you can feel the the pedal fade.

[white35th]

well the brakes dont respond untill the pedal is almost to the floor

They may just need bleeding, If you put your foot down with medium pressure will it hold at first then gradualy go all the way to the floor or stay firm. And does it feel spongey or hard when they engage. do this with the car off. If the gradually go to the floor then it is the master cy. If they dont you have one of two prob. If they stay and are stiff your rear shoes are out of adjustment or wore out. If they feel spongey you prob have some air in the lines and need to bleed them. Brakes should be bleed once a year because brake fluid attracts water and stuff in the system starts to rust.

[OrionBrazeal]

It goes almost to the floor with no pressure then right before the floor I get a hard firm push back but the brakes dont apply very strong to it. really week. Its like that when the car is off and then driving it its the same just when your stopping its gradual no mattor how much you push down on that pedal.

[white35th]

It goes almost to the floor with no pressure then right before the floor I get a hard firm push back but the brakes dont apply very strong to it. really week. Its like that when the car is off and then driving it its the same just when your stopping its gradual no mattor how much you push down on that pedal.

I would check your rear shoes and frount pads for wear. You somtimes can back the car up and hit the brakes hard (about 5-10 times) to adjust the rear but a lot of times the adusters are stuck. Can you pump the breaks and get a firm high petal?

[OrionBrazeal]

Need to try pumping it but I checked the brake pads and shoes and they still have some good life to them. they only look about half used.

[OrionBrazeal]

oh I looked at the master cylider and brake booster asembley after i got back home. really quickly and ther was some brake fluid stain on the back side of the cylider nad front of the booster.

[88GT]

I would start by bleeding the brakes. Maybe take the drums off and see if it needs adjusting. Do you have to pull the park brake handle up excessively high?

[OrionBrazeal]

oh yeah. pulling the parking brake is sky high. I would pull that thing threw the roof its the loose.

[88GT]

oh yeah. pulling the parking brake is sky high. I would pull that thing threw the roof its the loose.

rear brakes are probably out of adjustment or the cable has too much slack. If they are out of adjustment, adjusting them would help some, but you dont want the rear tires locking up. Just slight resistance on the drums when you turn the wheels. The pedal is probably going to the floor because of having to move the rear pistons so far. I would also bleed and that might be all thats needed

[OrionBrazeal]

alright. I will have to take a look at that. see what I can do.

[speedfreak87]

I would honestly replace the whole system, booster, master, all the lines, the cylinders, shoes, and hardware and the calipers and pads. (rotors if they need it) .

it seems like overkill, but on a car that old, it's only a matter of time. you replace the booster and master, puts more pressure, you might spring a leak. and with he 79 the rear line goes through the car, 86-up go on the outside of the car like it's suppose to.

[OrionBrazeal]

well can you convert from the 79 style to the new model brake system and how hard is it? right now I am just trying to get the car up and running as a daily driver to cover for me when I dont have my other car. but I would like to clean it up later and get it to be a nice little car.

[speedfreak87]

well can you convert from the 79 style to the new model brake system and how hard is it? right now I am just trying to get the car up and running as a daily driver to cover for me when I dont have my other car. but I would like to clean it up later and get it to be a nice little car.

easy.

get a brake line kit for an 87 mustang, should include all the lines (cjponyparts shoudl have it) should include, both front lines, and the full rear line (from master to rear) then you need the line that attaches to the rear, and the rubber hose that connect the hard line from the master to the rear hardline on the housing. it's a simple thing to do honestly, the hardest par for me was screwing in the clips that hold the line to the car going to the rear. I will try to get some pics this weekend of what the rear line looks like.

[OrionBrazeal]

alright great. well I was looking at teh car and there is alot of stuff that needs to be done before she will be road worthy. I have to get those brakes fixed, the wipers motor replaced, and somthing is up with my head lights some times they work other they dont.

[speedfreak87]

check all the wires, from headlight to the fuse panel and to the light switch. do you have ac or anything in the car? the wiper motor, a monkey can do. lol! that one is easy, just annoying. but I'm working on mine saturday if it don't rain, so I'll get the pics and post them up for you.

[OrionBrazeal]

yeah go tthe wipers taken car of but I have to play with the lights though. cant seem to find my micromiter. the car has no A/C for now but I think later down the road i might do that.

[speedfreak87]

the less stuff under the dash the easier it is to mess around with the wires. hell, I converted my coupe to a stick, and it took me less time to take out the brake pedal assembly and put the 5 speed one in, then it did to just take it out of my 87. no option coupe FTW! lol!

[5.psycho]

i had to do that on my 79...the booster bolts are a pain to get to...but fixed it right up.

[speedfreak87]

i had to do that on my 79...the booster bolts are a pain to get to...but fixed it right up.

my 81 was BY FAR easier then my 87 was. lol!


I forgot my camera this weekend, but I'm taking a ride over there tomorrow so I'll get the pics then and post them up tomorrow night.

[speedfreak87]

Ok, here are the pics.. in order from front to rear. any questions just ask me.

[OrionBrazeal]

thanks a bunch.

[speedfreak87]

No problem.. in the first picture, the hole next to the yellow wire is where the old brake line ran through.

[OrionBrazeal]

hmm thats interesting.

[OrionBrazeal]

yeah I think I need to replace all that system. it is quite the mess and everything is rusted to hell. the lines, master cylinder, brake buster, ect.

[speedfreak87]

That's what I recomend. Contact cjponyparts. www.cjponyparts.com tell what you need.. unfortunatly because they go straight to the manufacturer, you can't look it up on the site, unless they updated it. but the kits aren't all that much. (just for the lines) and the booster and master aren't that much either, but it's well worth it.