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[DaveDempsey]

Just wonder if anyones came across this before:

Tuesday night the brakes failed on the Omega, foot to the floor no pedal at all.
Left the car till Thursday when I had time to check it, moved it and there was a bit of pedal there. Noticed the brake fluid had dropped slightly, so topped that up then put the pressure bleeder on the system to check for leaks. 30minutes at 2bar and the pressure never changed. Also check the vaccum pipe for any splits but thats fine. Took it out and the car is braking but not as hard as it should. Regardless of how hard you brake the car wouldnt do so with enough force to kick in the ABS.
 Had it in at work today and pedal seems fine, check for leaks etc. and theres nothing there.

Cars a 3.0 Omega Estate.

Appreciate any help.

On a side note the fluid in the resevoir is manky, plan to change the fluid this weekend but cant see that causing the problem.

[Lizzie_Zoom]

My advise is that you should not be driving this car!!

Before you move it an inch further either thoroughly check all parts of the system for the leak /failure that is going to be there somewhere or get a reputable mobile mechanic to come to you to sought it out.

You are risking your life and the life of others by driving it in this condition, which I am sure you know is also illegal.

[Omegatoy]

Am betting the seal is gone and the fluid being manky kind of agrees with this, usually the fluid being mankey points to the seal dissolving
time to change the master cylinder methinks!!

[Marks DTM Calib]

I am not so sure.....the fact it failed but then also recovered to an extent points a bit more towards very old brake fluid.

My first port of call would be to do a (proper) change of the brake fluid....this should include pushing the brake caliper pistons fully in during the process to expel all old fluid!

[DaveDempsey]

My advise is that you should not be driving this car!!

Before you move it an inch further either thoroughly check all parts of the system for the leak /failure that is going to be there somewhere or get a reputable mobile mechanic to come to you to sought it out.

You are risking your life and the life of others by driving it in this condition, which I am sure you know is also illegal.

Jesus I asked for advise not a sermin. Perhaps better to check the background to the person your aiming to chastise before doing so

Omegatoy  - thanks for the advise, had planend to change the fluid this weekend as a matter of course after noticing its condition, but master cylinder had been in the back of my mind. although wouldnt have expected the pedal pressure to return if the seal had gone.

[VXL V6]

Would suggest using a pressure type bleeding system as well as it's possible to get air bubbles trapped in the ABS modulator and unless you have a TechII it's a right pain to flush them out.

[Omegatoy]

My advise is that you should not be driving this car!!

Before you move it an inch further either thoroughly check all parts of the system for the leak /failure that is going to be there somewhere or get a reputable mobile mechanic to come to you to sought it out.

You are risking your life and the life of others by driving it in this condition, which I am sure you know is also illegal.

Jesus I asked for advise not a sermin. Perhaps better to check the background to the person your aiming to chastise before doing so

Omegatoy  - thanks for the advise, had planend to change the fluid this weekend as a matter of course after noticing its condition, but master cylinder had been in the back of my mind. although wouldnt have expected the pedal pressure to return if the seal had gone.

think what happens is that the fluid does escape to the rear of the master cylinder because the lip of the seal isnt tight in the bore anymore and gets trapped behind the piston if you see what i mean? anyway when the pedal is left alone fluid seeps back to where it should be an voila you have a pretty good pedal again but it wont last!!! try sitting in car and put light to medium pressure on the pedal and see if it very slowly sinks down, as said a fluid change may help certainly, but i wouldnt want to take th risk of it doing it again just in case a kid stepped out on a road or something equally worrying!!

[rob in gib]

Brake fluid is hydrascopic so absorbs moisture so should be replaced at regular intervals modern braking systems use dot4 fluid or above that is required to have a boiling point in excess of 200 degrees c old fluid can cause symptoms such as yours so def change fluid a.s.a.p however i would recommend checking the items already  mentioned as well.

[dbug]

Change brake fluid first and assess.

[unlucky alf]

had the same thing on my other halfs astra, & yes it was the master cylinder, but now she is moaning that her brakes are too sharp!!!,,,ho-hum

[Seth]

As said, fluid is naffed due to age/master cylinder seal(s) failed.