Hello all,

My rear brake line that runs the length of my frame on my 71 chevelle 4-way drum burst and leaked brake fluid everywhere. Thankfully nothing was damaged but I had a question. I replaced all the lines from the junction block to the rear wheel cylines and have brakes again. I thought I had a split brake system, meaning if the rears go I would still have the fronts and vice versa. Only 1 side of the dual master cylinder resevoir was empty.

Is this the way its supposed to work? Do I have a bad junction block? What does the junction block do?

Thanks Much

I have "blown" the rear rubber brake hose and wheel cylinders on the Chevelle in the past, but have always retained "some" braking action. The pedal WILL be alot lower and may take some pumping, but the other half of the system will function. Now, I've had brakes fail years ago in a single system (a number of times!) and THAT will cause an underwear change very quickly! :eek:

No, we're talking NO pedal at all. It makes me kind of nervous. I was thinking about replacing all my front lines too and the junction block.

Corey

Is the master cylinder fairly new? If not, you may have a leak between the two sections. The junction block is just that, a point to "fan out" the brake lines. It also incorporates a switch which causes the "brake warning light" to illuminate if the pressure between the two systems becomes unequal. As I said, I've had front brake lines burst, rear lines, wheel cylinders burst, but I've always had SOME braking action. In fact, while driving my son's 86 Olds, the front to rear line burst (due to corrosion), but I still had front brakes. I would change that master cylinder, if you haven't already.

Yeah, the master cylinder is fairly new, probably 2 years old. I think I will change it out since I'm replacing everything else.

Thanks much for you help.

Or it could be something like what happened to my old F**d F-150. A moron tried to change a front brake caliper for me without bleeding it, and after that the pedal just went straight to the floor. Come to find out, I had been driving without rear brakes for quite a while (leaking line) but didn't notice it as the front brakes worked just fine. Sometimes I wish there was a car inspection here, would be great for us who always tinker with our Chevelles, but never do a thing to our drivers. graemlins/clonk.gif

I doubt that's the case with yours though, as you still have fluid in it. Just wanted to remind you to do it right, nowadays I don't take any chances, the brakes need to work. Just a shame that it took a near miss as above for me to wake up. :rolleyes: