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Brakes locking up

Tiny
COBRAJET427
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 105,000 MILES
Dealership talking about brake adjustment rod behind the master cylinder has been turned or power booster being bad. Any help with how to adjust the brake rod? Thanks
William
Wednesday, June 8th, 2016 AT 12:25 PM

16 Replies

Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
The rod has to be adjusted so there is a very tiny amount of play before it contacts the master cylinder. You just need to confirm that the master is returning fully to it stops and the rod is not preventing that.
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Friday, March 5th, 2021 AT 11:09 AM
Tiny
COBRAJET427
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Does the master cylinder need to be off to adjust this? The dealership I went to said that they needed to pull master cylinder to adjust and it would be $190.00. They said that if it did not work that they would replace the power booster next. They would be questing as they did not know what the problem was. I told my niece that they would only be questing when I had the dealership on speaker phone. They called back an hour later and said that a new tech was walking by and said that it was out of adjustment by 10 mm, he fixed it and that is when they said if that did not work they would change the power booster. So if you could help me with the adjustment on the rod or what to try next I could use the help. Thank you.
William
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Friday, March 5th, 2021 AT 11:09 AM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
Yes, the master has to be removed or at least pulled away from the booster some.
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Friday, March 5th, 2021 AT 11:09 AM
Tiny
COBRAJET427
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
If the rod is out of adjustment would the brakes work at all? When I changed the master cylinder the brakes worked fine for a week and then started to act up and stick.
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Friday, March 5th, 2021 AT 11:09 AM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
If the master is not able to completely return to its stop, it will not release pressure and it will build up a keep the brakes on.
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Friday, March 5th, 2021 AT 11:09 AM
Tiny
COBRAJET427
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Would the brakes work fine if the rod is out of adjustment and can you tell me how to check and see if the rod is out of adjustment and how to correct it?
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Friday, March 5th, 2021 AT 11:09 AM
Tiny
COBRAJET427
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Can you explain to me how to check to see if the master cylinder is returning completely and how to adjust the rod?
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Friday, March 5th, 2021 AT 11:09 AM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
You need to have about 1/16" of free play before contacting it.
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Friday, March 5th, 2021 AT 11:09 AM
Tiny
COBRAJET427
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Is that between the power booster and the master cylinder. I can take it apart and put it back together with no problem, but I have never dealt with this before.
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Friday, March 5th, 2021 AT 11:09 AM
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
There is a special tool to check the push rod length is correct, but as wrenchtech says you need a small amount clearance so the brakes do not bind up with residual pressure.
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Friday, March 5th, 2021 AT 11:09 AM
Tiny
COBRAJET427
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
If the rod is out of adjustment would the brakes work fine for a week and then lock up or would that be something else. This is what happen and that is why I am asking so many questions as I am trying to understand this.
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Friday, March 5th, 2021 AT 11:09 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,259 POSTS
When the brake are locked up, safely raise each wheel to see if all wheels are locked up, if so then its the adjustment at the master which can be checked simply be loosening the masters mounting bolts, if the wheel starts to roll then that is the problem, if you only have one wheel that is locked the problem is the rubber flex line need to be replaced, if one of the rear wheels are locked and it has drum brakes remove the rear wheel and look and the brake shoes they could be falling apart.

Please let me know what you find.

Best, Ken
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Friday, March 5th, 2021 AT 11:09 AM
Tiny
COBRAJET427
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
After driving the car the left front and right rear are locking up. I have changed the left front brake caliper as it was sticking when I tried to push the piston in and rotor along with all four brake hoses. I have also changed the master cylinder, could you give me an ideal of what to do next. Thank you William
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Friday, March 5th, 2021 AT 11:09 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,259 POSTS
This sounds like the ABS module and valve are bad and need to be replaced.
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Friday, March 5th, 2021 AT 11:09 AM
Tiny
COBRAJET427
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
It appears that it was the ABS module thanks for your help
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Friday, March 5th, 2021 AT 11:09 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,259 POSTS
Glad to hear we could help you fix the problem, please use 2Carpros anytime, we are here to help.
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Friday, March 5th, 2021 AT 11:09 AM

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