Project: PBR-Built Z/28

[nascarnate326]

Someones got to spend his money, might as well be me

[JoeliusZ28]

Just so everyone knows... Pulling a brake booster on an M6 car is a PITA. My hands/wrists hate me.

[landstuhltaylor]

Why is that?

[JoeliusZ28]

honestly, probably more a lack of a good tool variety than anything since i was pulling one from a donor car with just basic wrenches and a socket set. I couldnt get to one of the bolts without completely bending the clutch safety switch bracket out of the way. But its definitely a job that requires removing the drivers seat unless you like doing gymnastics through your t-tops.

[Atrus]

I can absolutely understand that one! When I was struggling on getting my CMC back in, I debated removing the booster, but it was very obviously going to be way more trouble than it's worth.

[birdie2000]

Yeah, I've definitely avoided removing it before because it looked like it would be a *****.

[JoeliusZ28]

Well got it replaced today. Only took a few hours and the sacrifice of some dermal... but in all seriousness what a pain in the ass.

The good news is my brakes feel normal again, no more dead space, and theres more braking power than before. The bad news is, I still have a brake light on the dashboard and im not sure why. There are no electronics hooked up to either the booster or the master cylinder that i noticed. What is it complaining about and how did it know there was a problem in the first place?? I disconnected the battery for 5 minutes... no change.

I had thought this may have been the first warning light on the dashboard to indicate a real problem.... But maybe it just ended up being coincidental and nothing to do with the problem that did in fact exist??

[hoogiesngrinderz]

Brake light only, no ABS? Typically a pressure difference between front and rear. I've never had a switch go bad, but it is possible I guess.

Put on LS1 fronts and bleed all four corners

[SSTODD]

Parking brake have a switch? hoping for something simple!

[JoeliusZ28]

Parking brake have a switch? hoping for something simple!

This is what I was getting at. That same "BRAKE" light on the dashboard is used for parking brake. Its possible that sensor died at the same problem an actual issue with the brakes happened.

I'm just going to drive it for a bit this weekend and see if anything changes. Ebrake sensor will be the next step.

I'm not going to do the LS1 conversion until these brakes wear out, these brakes work way too good to throw them out. Might try bleeding the fluid, but im pretty happy with the pedal feel so i dont think its that.

Also, no ABS light Michael.

[ThreeHonks]

Joel,

I would replace the master cylinder and booster. A common thing that i've had happen is the master gets a little leaky and leaks from the piston back into the booster. The brake fluid then damages the components inside the booster

[JoeliusZ28]

You know i think there may have been some fluid on the back of the master when i pulled it out. I'll have to pull it and check for that.

Good information, thanks. If thats the case ill replace both.

[JoeliusZ28]

You know i think there may have been some fluid on the back of the master when i pulled it out. I'll have to pull it and check for that.

Good information, thanks. If thats the case ill replace both.

[ThreeHonks]

You know i think there may have been some fluid on the back of the master when i pulled it out. I'll have to pull it and check for that.

Good information, thanks. If thats the case ill replace both.

yep, it doesn't literally leak onto the ground but just back into the brake booster. so you can see a leak but it should not be wet back there at all

[JoeliusZ28]

Well i think i got a preview of coming attractions this weekend. Three times in a row the car blocked me out of 2nd on a full throttle shift. Seems like what i predicted would happen with the combination of the heavy brass clutch disc (notchy shifts) and my high mileage synchros is already happening. Time to start planning a bulletproof T56 build...