Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Master Cylinder?

hey,

when checking your brake system for leaks the normal procedure ist to step onto the brake pedal a couple times till it is hard and then you stay on it for like 30 seconds and check if the pedal moves.
well, i did so and the thing is that in hte beginning it goes down like half an inch (maybe less) until it reaches a point where it stays firm.
then if you start the motor, the pedal will go down to the floor.
if you drive the car and brake normally it deceleares well, but you can press the pedal almost half way down.
if you stomp on the pedal hard the pressure point comes after only 1/4 of the whole possible pedal travel (and then eventually ABS will start to work and hte pedal will go down farther).
My concern is the master cylinder, but don´t know for sure.

Maybe this is how it is supposed to work??

Thanks, Clemens

Always make sure the fluid is not too low but do not add too much unless all the brakes are new.

The pedal should not have to be pumped to be firm, if so there is air in the system.

The best garrantee that the master cylinder is responsible is if the pedal sinks while applied with the engine running, or if the pedal always goes lower when applied slowly.

I would check that the drums are adjusted properly first, they can take up a lot of pedal travel.

If the brake fluid is original you are well overdue for replacement. Since the clutch and brakes are connected this must be done carefully.

make shure the spring clip is properly instaled on the front calipers,if not the caliper will move outward when the brakes are applied and cause a condition similar to yours

thanks for the advice;

i thought those drums are self adjusting (even my 72 Continental has self adjusters) but I´ll check them for corrosion;

thebrake system and the clutch are connected? so is the clutch hydraulic?
at least till now I thought mine is still manual cuz i had to adjust the linkage / wire once. maybe there´s a lil´ difference between them Mondeos and the Contours / Mystiques?
btw, did they produce Contours with smaller than 2 litre Zetecs at all?