Ok heres my latest little dilemma. Every once n a while the brake pedal on my '82 240 will not get pressure where it normally does. What I mean is that it stops just most of the time but occasionally the pedal will go way farther down than normal before it starts to stop the car. My first thought was a leak somewhere but there isn't one. So I'm pretty sure the master cylinder is slipping. Is this my problem? Anyone have any other ideas as to what it might be?

 

I assume your brake fluid level is ok, correct? Check your calipers, see if one is detorating or anything like that. If your caliper isn't pushing out on the pad, which pushed on the on the rotor, then you will have to push a little harder to get the car to brake. Take a look.

 

My calipers are fine. I mean they could probably use replacing but they aren.t leaking or binding or anything. My brake fluid level is fine, the resevoir hasn't lost any fluid and is well in the good range.

 

Try doing a full brake flush to get out any junk that may be in the system also it may bleed out a small trapped air bubble. NOTE: as you may know volvos must be flushed in the right order or it wont work right...just FYI...good luck!!

 

Brake fluid flush and replacement gets nmy vote.

 

My reply maybe a little late, but my '82 240GL had the same problem. Occasionally, the brake pedal would travel to the floor and the brake failure light would come on. It's the master cylinder for sure. Rebuild or Remove and Replace. :P

 

I would take a hard look at the master cylinder. Mine did the same thing and I immediately replaced the MC and octopus (junction box) with new Volvo parts. Now have brakes like new. You can rebuild your MC. For me, I would not scrimp on safety items.

 

just FYI, if you dont know the correct bleeding sequence here is a way to cheat that has always worked without fail, act as if you where to do it like normal start with the right rear and end up at the left front. bleed the screws as Inner, Outter, upper per caliper