1950-1966 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Check the brake fluid in the master cylinder reservoir, it's the larger of 2 white plastic reservoirs in front of the firewall on the driver's side and more inboard. The smaller one is the clutch master. (That's assuming you are LH drive; if there were RHD Saabs I don't know they configured the cylinders. Were there? In any case the big one is brakes.) If empty in one or both sections, you will probably get SOME brakes back by filling with brake fluid and pumping, but unlikely to be function fully, AND you still need to find and fix the leak before you are safe. A brake system in good order does not lose fluid at all even over years. Leaks are most likely at the master cylinder or any of the wheel cylinders (calipers on the front), but can also be in the rubber hoses at the wheels or the metal tubes. Any leak at a wheel cylinder will probably contaminate the linings with fluid and you will need new ones. Once a wheel cylinder leak gets bad enough, you can see the fluid by looking at the inside of the wheel. Leaks at the master cylinder can be hard to spot because the fluid gets sucked into the booster (the big can thing behind the master) but if you see any seepage where the two join, the master is leaking.
It is also possible to lose brakes with no leakage, this is a bad master cylinder bypassing fluid internally rather than pushing it toward the wheels.
In any case your most secure bet may be to have the system evaluated by a professional, and likely to rebuild ALL the cylinders and replace the hoses. 30-year-old hydraulic components are all going to give trouble soon, unless they have been rebuilt, do you have any history?
posted by 198.69.250...
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
