When car is in motion and I try to stop my brakes go straight to the floor

Tiny
HUFFYGIRL51
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 FORD FOCUS
Ok this is what happened to me, I was at the store then got into my car and put my foot on the brake. It made a pop sound then the brake went all the way down in to the floor. I made it home but I had to drive like 30 the whole way and brake very slowly does anyone know what is wrong with my car's brakes? Cause I really dont want to drive with my kid but I really need my car.
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Monday, March 15th, 2021 AT 7:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DAVE H
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,384 POSTS
Sounds like you lost pressure somehow. You need to have the system checked at a shop asap. You will need to check the brake fluid level, if it is low, check all the brakes for a leak, do not drive with defective brakes, get it towed to a service center for repairs if you are unable to fix this yourself.

DESCRIPTION & OPERATION
The dual-circuit, hydraulic brake system is a conventional pedal-actuated system with a tandem design master cylinder, brake calipers or wheel cylinders, pressure conscious reducing valves, brake hoses and lines. Hydraulic brakeline routing is diagonally split from front to rear (left front to right rear, and right front to left rear). The pressure conscious reducing valves are fitted between the master cylinder and the brake lines to the rear wheels to control hydraulic pressure applied to rear brakes to reduce rear wheel lock-up when braking.
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Monday, March 15th, 2021 AT 7:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LEE81
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2000 FORD FOCUS
  • 90,000 MILES
On my way home from work my brakes failed, luckily I wasnt far from home. I discovered the brake pipe had split and I have now replaced this. I have bled the brakes but the pressure isnt increasing. Is there a sequence I should be following? Started rigt rear caliper, left rear, front right, front left. Or is there any other tips you could give me to get this problem solved?

PLEASE HELP!
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Monday, March 15th, 2021 AT 7:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,916 POSTS
If the brake pedal went all the way to the floor, either during the failure or while bleeding, there's a real good chance the master cylinder has been damaged. Crud and corrosion build up in the lower halves of the two bores where the pistons don't normally travel. When you run the pedal all the way down, the lip seals get ripped on that crud, then you have an internal leak that prevents pressure from building up.
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Monday, March 15th, 2021 AT 7:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LEE81
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Thanks for you reply! Pressure is building up slightly but then seems to drop again. Could this also be a result of the master cylinder being damaged? It did look like the brake pipe had been rubbing against something which is what ive put the split down to, but would the split pipe itself not cause the problems with the pressure? Like I say, the pressure does seem to build a little but not to the required level.
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Monday, March 15th, 2021 AT 7:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,916 POSTS
There's two hydraulic circuits and two pistons with lip seals in the master cylinder. If only one seal is damaged some pressure will build up against the brake pedal. There is a spring inside to create that pressure which forces some brake fluid to go out to the two working brakes.

What you should be able to do, with a helper, is to have them pump the pedal rapidly a few times, then hold it down with just normal foot pressure while you open a bleeder screw. You should get a little spurt of fluid and the helper should feel the slight movement of the pedal. Do that for each wheel. If you find one front brake and the opposite rear brake don't give you that nice spurt, suspect the master cylinder. If you DO get a good spurt from all four wheels, there is likely still air in the line.

You should only have to bleed the line that had the leak, not all four of them unless you let the reservoir run dry. Even then I never bleed at the wheels. No air is going to travel to the wheels that didn't have a leak. Simply working the brake pedal a few times will wash up any air bubbles that might have gone a few inches down those lines.
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Monday, March 15th, 2021 AT 7:29 PM (Merged)

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