no brakes

[fascarman]

Hi, I recentley drove a windstar [2003] taking family to the airport in it. [not my car] being unfamiliar with it I didn't realize that the hand brake had been set prior to my taking the wheel. I took off with the brake set and didn't discover the problem untill some 10 or so minutes later while drivine at 70mph on the freeway. traffic suddenly started slowing rapidley and I discovered I didn't have any brakes. Pumping like crazy to no avail, downshifting to 2nd and avoiding the cars in front. It was then that I discovered the problem. Well I realize that the brakefluid boiled in the rear wheel cylinders, and thus no brakes. My question is, why the front brakes weren't still functioning because of their own isolated reservoir, and piston in the master cylinder? Oh, after some 20min. or so the brakes did return to there seemingly normal pedal. Is there a master cylinder problem that should be addressed? thanks.

[garync1]

Good point.. the oem fluid may not be as good as Ford wants it to be.
If the boiling point reaches 400 or above brake fluid breaks down rapidly.
I was wondering myself why I had cars that the fluid always stayed nice and clean for years and why my 2001 windstar looked like muddy water.
I know that the van is bigger and heavier than a car but I seen chevy trucks with cleaner fluid than the van of the same age or older. I also know that you should bleed the brakes every 2 yrs to replace or replinish the fluid but not every one does..Or use a turky baster to remove the old and add some new.. As for the brakes not working when you needed them, the heat stress from the back most likley sent the hot fluid back to the front causing a spungy pedel.. But you still should of had a little stopping power from the front. I would have those back brakes replaced along with the fluid.... Oh forgot to mention its not really isolated it can still flow to the front and mix.