brake trouble - I'm desperate! - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

whitey_mb · 10-19-2003, 11:45 AM

I've been having a recurring problem for months and nobody can figure out what is wrong. I have a non-abs s14 and my rear brakes are dragging like crazy. The Nissan dealership told me my calipers were bad, so I replaced them myself, which didn't help. I took the car to two seperate brake shops which both said the same thing as the dealership. They both replaced my rear calipers, and neither time made any differance.

I've tried disconnecting the handbrake cable, and both shops told me they could find no evidence of any sort of blockage in the lines. After I got it back from the second shop, my cousin wanted to look at everything so we took off the calipers again, and when we put everything back together, the brakes were fine! I drove around for about a week, and all of a sudden they locked up on the highway so badly that I couldn't even keep up with traffic. Later on, I started it up again and the brakes were fine. The problem seems intermittent. It's perfect one day and awful the next.

Sorry to go on so long about such a simple sounding problem, but I really am desperate. I can't afford to take it back to a shop, and I can't just keep buying pads once a week. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

240Dave · 10-19-2003, 12:09 PM

Wow, only other thing I can think is your MC is bad. Not sure how this would be caused exactly but if your rear calipers are fine and your e-brake isn't causing troubles, the only other thing I can thing of would be the MC.

whitey_mb · 10-19-2003, 05:06 PM

I kinda figured it might be something up front. Wouldn't the master cylinder affect all four wheels though? Could the proportioning valve be causing it? Is there any way to check them out?

Also, do they sell master cylinder rebuild kits or anything? I'm not that familiar with that stuff. Thanks

240Dave · 10-19-2003, 05:46 PM

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/master-brake.htm
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/power-brake.htm

This may make it more clear...all I know about them I learned above.

Maybe go to a local autoparts store and ask them, they always give free advice if they can.

zero.counter · 10-19-2003, 05:59 PM

If you can see it stick, then loosen a bleed screw. If your brake fluid gushes out and the caliper unbinds, you may have a collapsed hose. If you do not appreciate fluid squirting out and the caliper will not release, the caliper is sticking.

Replace or rebuild and you should be good to go. You should price watch though. I have seen rebuilt master cylinders that were very little more expensive than rebuild kits. Not typically true with calipers, it does nothurt to verify anyway on new, rebuilds and kits which are around.

mandoz85 · 10-19-2003, 09:32 PM

I had the same problem as you, my back brakes would lock up. my problem was that the brake light switch that hits the pedal was screwed in to much and causing my brakes to be pushed in a little all the time. i could only drive about 10 min. and then my brakes would lock up.

whitey_mb · 10-20-2003, 04:38 PM

Well I loosened a bleeder valve, and some brake fluid came out. I guess I have a collapsed line. What could have caused this and what can I do about it?

the head · 10-20-2003, 10:35 PM

usualy line colapsing is in the hose (rubber section) of the brake line. Primarily caused by degradation of the rubber from age. if your car is lowered you might (although highly unlikely) have damaged your hardlines check them for dents and flat areas the length of the car. if the hose is colapsed you need to replace it with either a factory rubber hose or a braided steel hose depending on you budget and preference. Was there anything that was done to the car (modifications? sent to a shop?) that coincided with the beginning of the problem? that might give you a better idea of where to begin looking on the vehicle.

10-19-2003, 11:45 AM	#1
whitey_mb Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 14 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	brake trouble - I'm desperate! I've been having a recurring problem for months and nobody can figure out what is wrong. I have a non-abs s14 and my rear brakes are dragging like crazy. The Nissan dealership told me my calipers were bad, so I replaced them myself, which didn't help. I took the car to two seperate brake shops which both said the same thing as the dealership. They both replaced my rear calipers, and neither time made any differance. I've tried disconnecting the handbrake cable, and both shops told me they could find no evidence of any sort of blockage in the lines. After I got it back from the second shop, my cousin wanted to look at everything so we took off the calipers again, and when we put everything back together, the brakes were fine! I drove around for about a week, and all of a sudden they locked up on the highway so badly that I couldn't even keep up with traffic. Later on, I started it up again and the brakes were fine. The problem seems intermittent. It's perfect one day and awful the next. Sorry to go on so long about such a simple sounding problem, but I really am desperate. I can't afford to take it back to a shop, and I can't just keep buying pads once a week. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

10-20-2003, 10:35 PM	#8
the head Nissanaholic! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: in a dark room mastering the art of typing with one hand Posts: 2,164 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	usualy line colapsing is in the hose (rubber section) of the brake line. Primarily caused by degradation of the rubber from age. if your car is lowered you might (although highly unlikely) have damaged your hardlines check them for dents and flat areas the length of the car. if the hose is colapsed you need to replace it with either a factory rubber hose or a braided steel hose depending on you budget and preference. Was there anything that was done to the car (modifications? sent to a shop?) that coincided with the beginning of the problem? that might give you a better idea of where to begin looking on the vehicle. __________________ I never knew you could do that with an eggplant

10-19-2003, 12:09 PM	#2
240Dave Zilvia Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: . Posts: 241 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Wow, only other thing I can think is your MC is bad. Not sure how this would be caused exactly but if your rear calipers are fine and your e-brake isn't causing troubles, the only other thing I can thing of would be the MC.

10-19-2003, 05:06 PM	#3
whitey_mb Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 14 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I kinda figured it might be something up front. Wouldn't the master cylinder affect all four wheels though? Could the proportioning valve be causing it? Is there any way to check them out? Also, do they sell master cylinder rebuild kits or anything? I'm not that familiar with that stuff. Thanks

10-19-2003, 05:46 PM	#4
240Dave Zilvia Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: . Posts: 241 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	http://auto.howstuffworks.com/master-brake.htm http://auto.howstuffworks.com/power-brake.htm This may make it more clear...all I know about them I learned above. Maybe go to a local autoparts store and ask them, they always give free advice if they can.

10-19-2003, 05:59 PM	#5
zero.counter Nissanaholic! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: At work Posts: 2,003 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	If you can see it stick, then loosen a bleed screw. If your brake fluid gushes out and the caliper unbinds, you may have a collapsed hose. If you do not appreciate fluid squirting out and the caliper will not release, the caliper is sticking. Replace or rebuild and you should be good to go. You should price watch though. I have seen rebuilt master cylinders that were very little more expensive than rebuild kits. Not typically true with calipers, it does nothurt to verify anyway on new, rebuilds and kits which are around.

10-19-2003, 09:32 PM	#6
mandoz85 Zilvia Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Las Vegas, NV Age: 39 Posts: 207 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: mandoz85 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I had the same problem as you, my back brakes would lock up. my problem was that the brake light switch that hits the pedal was screwed in to much and causing my brakes to be pushed in a little all the time. i could only drive about 10 min. and then my brakes would lock up.

10-20-2003, 04:38 PM	#7
whitey_mb Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 14 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Well I loosened a bleeder valve, and some brake fluid came out. I guess I have a collapsed line. What could have caused this and what can I do about it?