Brake Help (SEDOC)

[ccurzio]

As many of you know, I had a bit of a brake issue on my way home from the last SEDOC tech day. And by "issue" I mean "the brake pedal would more often than not go straight to the floor and barely stop the car requiring me to drive the entire way home with my hand on the e-brake in case pumping the brake pedal stopped working." I haven't driven the car since, as I have been on vacation and haven't had much time to poke at it.

But let's face it, even if I did start looking at it, I wouldn't even know what to look for.

I had been noticing for a few weeks prior to this happening, the car would pull to the right after moderate to hard braking but I'd never had the "down to the floor" pedal issue. After I got home I checked the brake fluid level and (surprisingly) it was fine. The first and obvious diagnosis is a failing master cylinder, but that doesn't necessarily explain the problem with the car pulling to one side after braking. I'd assumed that to be a fluid leak, but once again, the level is a-ok.

Since I know very little about brakes and I don't trust myself to reliably fix these problems, I'm looking for two things:

A) Knowledgeable suggestions about the problem based on this and subsequent information
B) Someone local to help me fix it, or a recommendation of a local shop who can work on the DeLorean brake system.

I'm not opposed to overhauling the whole shebang, as I've been meaning to see if I need new pads/rotors for a bit anyway.

[Jack]

My guess would be two fold.
Pedal to the floor a failing master like you already are thinking.
The pull to the right is most likely a seized piston or two on the left side of the car.
Check the pads for uneven wear :)

[DMCMW Dave]

Replace the master cylinder;
Rebuild all 4 calipers, replace pistons as needed
Replace all 4 brake line rubber hoses
While you are in there, replace the pads and machine or replace the rotors. Do not cut the rotors below the minimum stamped on them, which happens to be metric for 0.460 inches.

Do this and you won't touch the brakes again for another 10 years. Assuming you actually drive the car from time to time and don't let everything rot.

[Rich]

Speaking of letting things rot, do everything Dave said and flush/bleed the brakes at least every 3 years, no matter how many miles you put on the car, for worry-free maintenance.

Do this on your other vehicle(s), too.

[DMCMW Dave]

Speaking of letting things rot, do everything Dave said and flush/bleed the brakes at least every 3 years, no matter how many miles you put on the car, for worry-free maintenance.

Do this on your other vehicle(s), too.

Very true. Common maintenance spec on European cars.

American and Asian car makers just assume it will be out of warranty by the time the brakes are an issue, and that the third owner just replace everything when it fails way out there.

[ccurzio]

Assuming you actually drive the car from time to time and don't let everything rot.

I definitely do drive it.

[davidhamblyn]

Mine started doing this about a year ago on long journeys only but then the brakes would come back. Weird. On short stints, the brakes work 100 percent but long trips about 25 percent efficiency.

Finally getting them looked at today!