FAQ |
Members List |
Social Groups |
Calendar |
Search |
Today's Posts |
|
THE LOBBY A gathering place. Introductions, sports, showin' off your ride, birthday-anniversary-milestone, achievements, family oriented humor. |
Reply |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Brakes are soft 65 GP
I just bought a 65 GP with a 421 from my father in-law . It has the 8 lug drums and the brakes seem soft and not able to stop the car when in drive . Is this an old fluid issue or is the master cylinder going bad ? Brake pads are in great shape . If it is a fluid issue what type of brake fluid should I use to replace the old stuff .
|
#2
|
||||
|
||||
Could be a failing master cylinder, but I think the first step should be flushing and bleeding the fluid. Unless you know some other type is in there now, it most likely has DOT3 fluid. Also, check to see if the brakes shoes are adjusted properly; they're supposed to be self adjusting but the adjusters may be nonfunctional or missing.
|
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Stuart For This Useful Post: | ||
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Thanks for the help I’m new to this .
|
#4
|
|||
|
|||
You came to the right spot. Like Stuart said start with the basic stuff. How does the fluid look, adjust up the shoe's. Will if pump up with a few quick pumps of the pedal? Also you can go down to specific information on big car help section. Welcome to PY and post up some pictures!
https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...play.php?f=428
__________________
'68 GTO '69 Corvette '75 Cadillac Coupe Deville TOM Last edited by salem1912; 02-18-2024 at 10:51 AM. |
The Following User Says Thank You to salem1912 For This Useful Post: | ||
#5
|
||||
|
||||
Don't overlook internally failed rubber brake hoses. They are not as easy to diagnose as the more common issues (master cyl/wheel cyl etc) but are common on older vehicles
__________________
If it ain't broke, fix it 'till it is |
The Following User Says Thank You to limejudge69 For This Useful Post: | ||
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Does your Grand Prix have manual brakes or power brakes? That makes a big difference in how the brakes "feel", even when working correctly.
|
The Following User Says Thank You to mgarblik For This Useful Post: | ||
#7
|
||||
|
||||
Like Stewart said, start with the easy stuff. Fresh juice and a good bleed. Then I would say the master if that doesn’t help.
__________________
LIFT HEAVY, LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO BE SMALL! |
The Following User Says Thank You to BILL BOWMAN1 For This Useful Post: | ||
#8
|
|||
|
|||
It has power brakes and will have some pictures as soon as it gets down to Georgia it’s been sitting in my father in laws garage for 25 years. It’s all original and I know they didn’t make a 65 convertible but that’s what it is . Everything on it is GP . Should have it this week .
|
#9
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Does the VIN start with 25267?
__________________
The difference between inlaws and outlaws? Outlaws are wanted |
#10
|
||||
|
||||
Wheel cylinders may be bad too.
If it has been sitting that long, replace the master cylinder, 4 wheel cylinders and the 3 hoses.
__________________
The difference between inlaws and outlaws? Outlaws are wanted |
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to stevep For This Useful Post: | ||
#11
|
||||
|
||||
THIS^^^. If it's been sitting that long, it will need all of the above. Not expensive. I did the '61 Chevy and the '66 GTO with parts from Rock Auto. Not expensive.
__________________
Jeff |
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to geeteeohguy For This Useful Post: | ||
#12
|
|||
|
|||
As a way to help you diagnose the brakes....... when the hydraulics are good and the shoes adjusted properly, the brake pedal will be very hard with the engine not running and the vacuum out of the power booster. Should only drop about 1" when you push the pedal hard. If it drops low or continues to drop with steady pressure you have a leak or a failing master cylinder. As mentioned, all the parts are available and cheap.
As for what the car actually is, most likely a Catalina convertible. It was common for owners to change out the grilles, and taillight panel and make many full size Pontiac's "Grand Prix". I have a friend with a 66 Bonneville convertible, "Grand Prix". I have seen dozens of them. VIN will tell you right away or the title. |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
Agree on wheel cylinders - even after a year or two they seem to need to be replaced.
|
The Following User Says Thank You to 1965gp For This Useful Post: | ||
#14
|
|||
|
|||
The vin does start with 25267 . I will check out rock auto
|
#15
|
|||
|
|||
Catalina convertible, a great car. Should be pretty easy to sort out the brakes and then have some fun with the car. Lots of people can help you here if needed.
|
#16
|
|||
|
|||
3 hoses not 4 ? Does anyone have a parts list on what I need to buy for the brakes ? Like part #’s . Thanks everyone for the help hopefully I get the car this week so I can start on the brakes .
|
#17
|
|||
|
|||
Yep three, older cars only had one for the rear.
__________________
'68 GTO '69 Corvette '75 Cadillac Coupe Deville TOM |
#18
|
|||
|
|||
Rock Auto.com has a great on-line catalog system IMO for the kinds of stuff you need. Just plug in year make and model and everything they have available is listed, some with pictures. They also list the parts by price and quality level so you can get what you want. Heck my NAPA store uses the Rock Auto site for look-up all the time because the NAPA corporate software is terrible.
|
#19
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
I do it to my customer.s and my cars.
__________________
The difference between inlaws and outlaws? Outlaws are wanted |
Reply |
|
|