Was driving my '98 V70 (252.5K miles) on the interstate today. When I went to stop at an offramp, the brake pedal went to the floor. I pumped it and the resistance returned; the car stopped. I pulled over and noticed a burning smell. Testing the bakes had the pedal go to the floor again, but, again, pumping the pedal worked and the car stopped. I shut the car off for about ten minutes. When I started it, the problem had disappeared, and there were no further issues for the remainder of the drive (about 10 miles, not on interstate, but in traffic). Any thoughts? Thank you, as always!

I had a stuck caliper in my '96 855R ( a chance to mention the greatest car I drove for 11 years! ) 75 miles from home.

I freed the pads with a screwdriver and got a 6 pack of bottled water at the next exit. I tried not th use the brakes and got off at each exit to pour water on the offending caliper. Got home safely.

It now occurrs to me that one could put a couple of 1 quart milk bottles, filled with water in the storage area of their wagons. I always used to carry water in all my old cars. Or bottled water?

Or one could shorten or replace the hold-down bolt in the spare and use that space for storage.

Another thing I do is I purchased a tool kit from NAPA ( not the best tools, but usable ) and put them oil 4 plastic bags and put them around my spare tire.

Thank you both! I appreciate the help. I have had problems with sticking calipers, but replaced them thinking problem solved. Back to the mechanic!

Easy way to check for a sticking caliper is to put a hand to each wheel to feel how warm it is. Compare temps between wheels to find which wheel is dragging. The heat from a stuck caliper will warm a wheel to temps that are uncomfortable to the touch.
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XC60 / Odyssey

LOL I use an IR thermometer. Blistered fingers are a no no!!
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Keeping it running is better than buying new

Oof, for blisters you’d see the smoke first!

Happy Sunday!
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XC60 / Odyssey

Usually when I replace calipers, I also do the rubber hoses to it!

You might have a hose breaking down inside. Can act like a flap valve and stick a calliper on, so boiling the fluid. Boiling fluid can lose you your pedal. It would have been a good idea when you first stopped to check around the wheels to see which one was hot.

Hi,

Just a thought, but it appears to me you have a caliper or caliper circuit dragging and overheating the brake fluid. The hot brake fluid makes gas bubbles that made it all the way back up to the master cylinder and you still stopped on the front or rear reservoirs or a combination of diminished capabilities.

Anyways, that’s mostly with cars with no ABS systems.
I have no idea what other goodies are built into these high technology cars after my old 240s!
My nineties cars have ABS with no “frills” of extra computer enhancements like the CANBUS systems that can have twenty to one hundred slave receivers, that will know when you eyes close for too long!

I need to ask when was the last time you bled and replaced the brake fluid because you could have a lot of water in system. Brake fluid absorbs moisture and it recommended to be replenished every two years.

If you have done it sometime recently did you pump the master cylinder or use a pressurized method?

When a pedal goes to the floor, that’s a new territory for the seals in their respective bores and may have finished them off! Be very careful about driving the car until you get answers!

I do an exchange out of brake fluid quantities, of the reservoirs only, every year! I used a turkey blaster because they are made plastic to see through them.
This is so, I don’t get any up inside the rubber bulbs.
They become history if you do!

The new stuff will absorb the moisture from the far end of the whole system.
By doing it yearly, It perpetually keeps the system fresher, so I don’t have to be so “on time” about working the bleeders.
I do mine when do a set of pad changes or some other wheel work, like rotations or wheel bearings!

I’m not real fond of hugging my wheels often either! (:-)
Post back what you find!

Phil