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240 series master cylinder failure 200 1981

posted by  someone claiming to be john in sydney on  Mon Apr 7 01:54 CST 2003 [RELATED]

My Mum's 240 1981, auto, 270000 km, suffered a total pedal to the floor brake failure today.

Had to have the master cylinder replaced ... haven't really got a satisfactory explanation for this. Now I used to own a 245 (75 model) and I remember it had some kind of 2 circuit master cylinder just to stop this kind of total system failure: can any of you volvo cyber gurus out there explain just how this could happen...and just how common is it ????
(I will be seeing her in a day or 2 & have asked her to get the parts from the mechanic so I can add further detail when I have it)








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    240 series master cylinder failure 200 1981

    posted by  someone claiming to be George A. on  Mon Apr 7 13:55 CST 2003 [RELATED]

    Guess I'd also check the brake block down below the master cylinder, mounted on the subframe member. Just follow the brakelines down--they go right into it. The block also contains the low brake pressure switch. Even if the master cylinder's sound, a leaky block will eventually empty the reservoir. If the elec. connection on top has been broken or detached, there'll be no brake warning at the dash. These blocks, or rather the rubber o-rings inside, simply deteriorate with age. I've replaced a couple on my 240's in the last few years.








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    240 series master cylinder failure 200 1981

    posted by  gabriel on  Mon Apr 7 04:27 CST 2003
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    last visit: Sat Sep 21 09:48 CST 2013
    [RELATED]

    Is the brake failure light is working properly? If one of the 2 circuit does not work correctly the equilizer sends a signal to the failure light however the brakes are working fine. After the second circuit goes, than you floor the pedal and the system has a fatal error. I agree with rmagoo's assesment. Happy bricking, Gabe








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    240 series master cylinder failure 200 1981

    posted by  rmagoo on  Mon Apr 7 03:13 CST 2003
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    my guess is she was driving it with a problem and didnt realize it and then the other circuit failed and the pedal went to the floor, if it leaked externally maybe she ran out of fluid. some people drive around with one headlight out and dont know it, when the second one fails then they know.








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      240 series master cylinder failure 200 1981

      posted by  someone claiming to be john in sydney on  Tue Apr 8 00:46 CST 2003 [RELATED]

      Thanks rmagoo, gabriel & george.

      Looks like there probably was a failure in 1 circuit beforehand but for some reason it never triggered the BF warning light. My own experience with Volvos (71 145, 71 164, 74 142, 76 245 & 90 240) has always led me to believe that switch is super sensitive esp on the 145 & the 245, so its a bit of a wonder that it never lit up.

      Thanks George...the mechanic replaced the equalizing valve & the seals...

      BTW I also found this string on the brickboard...

      Total brake failure on 1981 244 GL[ALL/1998] posted by Chris Ives on
      Friday, 4 July 1997, at 11:11 p.m.

      G'day - my wife's car lost its brake fluid today, and the pedal eventually went to the floor with absolutely no braking response - primary cause was a small line leak close to the Right Rear Caliper - she didn't think to stop and have a gas station top up the reservoir. BUT both circuits failed - no fluid at all in the front master reservoir - but also nearly no fluid in the rear master reservoir. That I have not encountered before in my 26 years of 140/160/240's. Any suggestions please? The master cylinder was rock solid last week and the brake system "bite" was so good as to be almost too sudden (sure, straight line braking from high and low speeds). No caliper pistons jammed and no sign of fluid leaks anywhere else. The only other thing that I can think of was the brake system warning valve block (the one that you have to reset after bleeding the brakes) - I couldn't get the warning light to go out, and haven't installed a new micro switch yet. So where is the secondary problem - maybe a cross connection that causes one circuit to drain the other circuit as well? I guess I'll need to replace both the master cylinder/reservoir and the warning valve block. Question - has anyone else encountered this kind of failure before - thanks for your help - Christopher Ives, Hudson, Quebec, Canada.


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      Re: Total brake failure on 1981 244 GL[ALL/1998] posted by JIm McDonald on
      Saturday, 5 July 1997, at 3:44 p.m.

      Yes, that's a well known failure. The seal in the piston that operates the warning switch has failed, cross-connecting the circuits. Very hard to check for ahead of time, too. I'd replace the M/C on general principals, but probably not the reservoir.


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