Brake failure explanation

Maintenance/Repairs
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10

Hi Kendall:
I agree with the others that it sounds like your brake fluid was boiling.

Two questions:

  1. Prior to your experiencing the brake failure on that ride down the mountain, did you happen to be using or riding your brakes a lot to control your speed?

  2. The car is 23 years old. Do you remember when the brake fluid was last changed? I ask because brake fluid tends to absorb moisture over time. As it does, the boiling point of the brake fluid is reduced, which makes it more prone to boiling under heavy brake usage.

As Corollaguy noted, if you do experience any of the low or no pedal symptoms during normal driving, then do consider the master cylinder. So far in what you wrote, it doesn’t seem like that, but do note it.

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