Brakes - No Brakes

I flush my brake fluid every 2-3 years. I had my first experience with moisture in the brake fluid on my E350 '89 Jamboree when it was 2 years old. My Workhorse chassis had the brake recall for piston that would swell when the brake fluid got moisture in it. It takes a good 30 minutes for my son and I to flush the brake fluid and 3 Litres for the complete job.

Flushing brake lines may be all and good, but todays vehicles have improved so much over the years that the dealer has no work to do so they make work. 3000 mile oil changes? Brake flush? just 2 of the many things to get you back into the service bay. Unless brake fluid has changed so much, my 2nd to last vehicle had 250k+ and was 27 years old and never had a transmisson oil change nor brake fluid change. It got new cooling fluid when I had to change the water pump. The transaxle and rear end were never changed nor where to front or rear wheel bearings greased Luck, I don't know.

aruba5er wrote:
Flushing brake lines may be all and good, but todays vehicles have improved so much over the years that the dealer has no work to do so they make work. 3000 mile oil changes? Brake flush? just 2 of the many things to get you back into the service bay. Unless brake fluid has changed so much, my 2nd to last vehicle had 250k+ and was 27 years old and never had a transmisson oil change nor brake fluid change. It got new cooling fluid when I had to change the water pump. The transaxle and rear end were never changed nor where to front or rear wheel bearings greased Luck, I don't know.

So what do you think the OP's issue is, why did the pedal go away and then come back the next morning?

... Eric

My guess is water contaminated brake fluid or master cylinder.

aruba5er, you obviously are a gambler, I hope your luck continues. Brake fluid is hygroscopic and will absorb water right through the rubber hoses.

Thank you for your post, TX77705. I apologize for any difficulties you experienced regarding your membership. I would like the opportunity to speak with you concerning your post. I would be more than happy to contact you…please send me a private message with your Good Sam Roadside Assistance membership number and contact information: telephone and e-mail. I am looking forward to speaking with you. Thank you, Frank

Is there a possibility the OP can look into synthetic brake fluid if he decides to change it? I realize not all braking systems are designed to make this change but perhaps it can be considered. IIRC, synthetic fluid is not hydroscopic.

You don't say what part of TX you're from but if it's along the Gulf Coast you can bet that your 10 year old brake fluid is contaminated with water that it picked up just from being exposed to the humid Gulf air for 10 years.

My brother had a terrible time with brake fade in the Sierra Nevada's, it was old moisture contaminated brake fluid. I helped him and put in DOT 5.1 and he had no more problems.

Steve

Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brake_fluid

TX77705 wrote:
We were traveling on i81 near Roanoke VA in heavy stop and go traffic, on a very hot day, and decided to pull off to fuel up at a nearby Pilot. Brakes were fine up until we pulled up to pump to refuel. After refueling, we started to drive away when I felt the brake pedal go all the way to the floor. Luckily I was able to apply the e-brake and got the rig stopped. No dash lights came on to indicate any brake trouble, and a check of the brake fluid reservoir showed it full and no leaks. At this point, we called GS Roadside Assist for help (completely useless I might add, but that's another story), and after many calls back and forth the final outcome was that we were going to have to spend the weekend boondocked at this Pilot filling station. We settled in for the night, but after dark I thought I would give the brakes another check and found them to be working again. Back on the road, we completed our journey without further incident. Will have the rig into service tomorrow to have everything checked out, but wondering what could have caused this problem? Anyone have any similar experience or idea as to what could have caused this?

When you find the problem please come back here and post the solution. One of the suggestions might have been the right one.

Brake fluid (At least some of the formulas) are/is Hydroscopic

This means it sucks moisture out of the air, like salt.

Now, if the brakes get hot enough, WATER (Moisture) Boils turns into steam.

Unlike liquid, STEAM, can be compressed, rather easily.. And the pedal goes to the metal.. Sounds like this is what happened to you.

So the advice to flush the system and put in all new brake fluid.

Very good advice.

And have them inspect the rest of it while at it.. Whow knows...

True story follows: Got sued once for neglance causing an accident.. WAS PREAPARED when we went for the deposition.. They settled for the damage to the car my wife hit, actually, a bit less than that (Like 3 grand and change).

What happend.. A brake pad went AWOL as wife was approaching a red light., There being no where to turn to she hit the car in front of her.

Following up,, I removed the wheel with the defetive pad in the presence of two mechanics, both of whom observed the missing pad.

I still had the box the brake pads came in with the register tape stapled to the box.. Took that with me to the shyster ambulance chaser Kentucky Coronal of a lawyer's office for the deposition.

They settled out of court. One of the smallest settlements of that kind the insurance company ever paid.

And to the aforementioned lawyer.. If you perhaps should read this.. NOTE that I have not given your name or address.

Same thing happened to me. Following another rv in stop/go traffic in Florida during summer. After several hours, Rv in front of me emergency stopped due to an idiot pulling in front of them. I slammed my pedal down, NO BRAKES. Slammed into low and used parking brake to stop after having to pull off road to avoid rear-ending rv in front of me. About 1 hour later, had brakes again. I learned then to keep the fluid changed every 2 years.