Brake Failure

[JonJon68]

Hi everyone, 97 GPGT, 127,000. I was coming to a stop and my brake pedal gave way, went all the way to the floor. Fortunately I didn't kill someone or myself. I was about a mile from home. No lights showed up at first but the ABS light came on, stayed on. I turned the car off and re-started and that light went out then my brake light came on a few minutes later as I drove up the driveway. My brake fluid was WAY low but not empty. I was concerned about the master cylinder. Obviously, I've experienced a fluid pressure loss for some reason. Any idea what I should look for before I take it in? It's raining cats and horses here all morning up to now so I can't really check it out at the moment. I refilled the brake fluid but the pedal continues to push to the floor whether the car is started or not. TIA....

[doctorhrdware]

My did the same thing and had to get the car towed home cost me $245. Found the brake line going to rear drive side had pin holes in the line. Also check the calipers may have a problem with the piston.

[GTP Dad]

It sounds like you have a leak or a bad master cylinder or possibly a leaking master cylinder. I would take the car to the shop and have them check it. Due to the possibility that there are no brakes on the car have it towed to the shop rather than drive it.

[CrazyHorst]

As above, sounds like a broken hose or perforated line, blown seal, etc.

However, you should have the "dual diagonal" redundancy built into the circuit so there should never be a situation where there's *no brakes* without some kind of catastrophe or sabotage involved.

[JonJon68]

Yes, I had brakes but the pedal went completely to the floor and even then it took time to come to a stop.
It stopped raining and I found the source of the leak. It looks like a line failure directly under the drivers seat going to the rear. The fluid is really pouring out when the brake pedal is pressed. Can this line be fixed at that location? Or does the entire line need to be replaced? I just inspected my brake lines when I did my last oil change and there were no signs of rust/corrosion. I did "brake hard" this morning when it failed so I'm assuming there was a weak spot in that area. Thanks for all your input/suggestions.

[doctorhrdware]

The reccommend repair is to replace the entire length of the line, from the master cylinder to the rear caliper. What I did, which is not the proper way or reccomended, I used a compression fitting and ran new brake lines to the rear from before where the leak was.

[JonJon68]

$275.00 and two "main body brake lines" later and my problem is resolved. I'm surprized my eyes didn't pop out of my head when I went to stop at a T intersection last Saturday and it wasn't happening.

[doctorhrdware]

I know what you mean, I was on a busy 4 lane divide highway. Made a beeline to a gas station parking lot. Had to yell at a kid doing wheelies in the parking lot. Almost hit the little boy. He had a x-rated comment to say.