240 General: - total brake failure

Marlen · Jul 23rd, 2015, 22:25

Last week I experienced total brake failure ... brake pedal flat to the floor ... on my 1989 240 wagon. Fortunately I brought it to a stop after numerous scary blocks. Got it towed to a mechanic and waited until they looked at it today. Unfortunately they told me that they could not reproduce the brake failure, the brake fluid was adequate. They told me the pedal was totally firm. They had assured me earlier that once they had it on the lift they would know exactly what was wrong. I'm panicking because I truly don't ever want to have that experience again. They offered to keep it for another day and check again. I'm not at all mechanical. I'm hoping someone can tell me (and the mechanics) what might have gone wrong.

140 · Jul 24th, 2015, 10:22

Assuming that there is no fluid loss visible i would go for the master cylinder. The rubber seals can fail quite often when light pressure is applied the pedal will slowly go down the floor but when high pressure is applied the seals expand slightly and a normal pedal is felt. If would replace the master cylinder anyway.

Volvorama · Jul 24th, 2015, 10:25

That's very strange. One of my stored vehicles has lost all of its brakes but then all of the fluid has gone too - I know not where to as yet.
One thing that could have happened to yours is that the fluid got hot and boiled in one of the front calipers, thus knocking out both brake circuits. i had this on a 144. Once cooled the brakes would come back again. Perhaps you were using the brakes hard on a hill descent or a caliper was sticking on slightly. With fresh brake fluid this may not have caused a failure but old fluid might boil (due to it absorbing water over time). Your first moves could therefore be to check for jamming calipers or blocked flexible hoses and to change the brake fluid.
Some mechanics will have a device for testing the fluid too.

rustytoba · Jul 24th, 2015, 13:34

My Brother had a similar problem on an old 360GLT, shot seals on the master cylinder. Brakes, no brakes, brakes and no fluid loss.

Rusty

harvey · Jul 24th, 2015, 16:21

Check for excess play in one or both of the front wheel bearings.

Clifford Pope · Jul 24th, 2015, 17:14

I'd go for master cylinder seals, as suggested, or perhaps a seized caliper piston causing overheating. I've experienced a very hot caliper boiling the fluid (or perhaps water in the fluid) causing total loss of brakes. When it cooled down, the brakes returned.

Tramp · Jul 25th, 2015, 15:19

Check your caliper's, when I first got my 240 I was driving it back home and experienced the same total foot to the floor lack of stopping power luckily the handbrake was good! When I looked at it my drivers side front caliper had been sticking on, the caliper had got so hot the brake fluid boiled causing the foot to the floor conditions, on further investigation I found one of my hoses had collapsed, preventing the cylinders from returning, it seems that this is quite common - check the "sticky caliper's or not" thread (http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=232843

Jul 23rd, 2015, 22:25	#1
Marlen New Member Last Online: Jul 24th, 2015 00:58 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Kansas City	total brake failure Last week I experienced total brake failure ... brake pedal flat to the floor ... on my 1989 240 wagon. Fortunately I brought it to a stop after numerous scary blocks. Got it towed to a mechanic and waited until they looked at it today. Unfortunately they told me that they could not reproduce the brake failure, the brake fluid was adequate. They told me the pedal was totally firm. They had assured me earlier that once they had it on the lift they would know exactly what was wrong. I'm panicking because I truly don't ever want to have that experience again. They offered to keep it for another day and check again. I'm not at all mechanical. I'm hoping someone can tell me (and the mechanics) what might have gone wrong.

Jul 24th, 2015, 10:25	#3
Volvorama Too many cats Last Online: Aug 24th, 2023 09:02 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Birmingham	Hmm That's very strange. One of my stored vehicles has lost all of its brakes but then all of the fluid has gone too - I know not where to as yet. One thing that could have happened to yours is that the fluid got hot and boiled in one of the front calipers, thus knocking out both brake circuits. i had this on a 144. Once cooled the brakes would come back again. Perhaps you were using the brakes hard on a hill descent or a caliper was sticking on slightly. With fresh brake fluid this may not have caused a failure but old fluid might boil (due to it absorbing water over time). Your first moves could therefore be to check for jamming calipers or blocked flexible hoses and to change the brake fluid. Some mechanics will have a device for testing the fluid too. __________________ Mark Last edited by Volvorama; Jul 24th, 2015 at 10:30.

Jul 24th, 2015, 10:22	#2
140 Junior Member Last Online: Apr 24th, 2024 18:13 Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Norwich	Assuming that there is no fluid loss visible i would go for the master cylinder. The rubber seals can fail quite often when light pressure is applied the pedal will slowly go down the floor but when high pressure is applied the seals expand slightly and a normal pedal is felt. If would replace the master cylinder anyway.

Jul 24th, 2015, 13:34	#4
rustytoba Master Member Last Online: Nov 24th, 2023 01:11 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Glasgow	My Brother had a similar problem on an old 360GLT, shot seals on the master cylinder. Brakes, no brakes, brakes and no fluid loss. Rusty

Jul 24th, 2015, 16:21	#5
harvey Junior Member Last Online: Feb 24th, 2023 14:25 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Essex	Check for excess play in one or both of the front wheel bearings.

Jul 24th, 2015, 17:14	#6
Clifford Pope Not an expert but ... Last Online: Today 08:50 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Boncath	I'd go for master cylinder seals, as suggested, or perhaps a seized caliper piston causing overheating. I've experienced a very hot caliper boiling the fluid (or perhaps water in the fluid) causing total loss of brakes. When it cooled down, the brakes returned.

Jul 25th, 2015, 15:19	#7
Tramp Member Last Online: Nov 13th, 2018 09:45 Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Rotherham	Check your caliper's, when I first got my 240 I was driving it back home and experienced the same total foot to the floor lack of stopping power luckily the handbrake was good! When I looked at it my drivers side front caliper had been sticking on, the caliper had got so hot the brake fluid boiled causing the foot to the floor conditions, on further investigation I found one of my hoses had collapsed, preventing the cylinders from returning, it seems that this is quite common - check the "sticky caliper's or not" thread (http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=232843

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)