IML: Brakes & Vac Hoses '63 LeBaron

["Eric" <gearhead@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

The smaller hoses would be for the heater box vacuum actuators / heater 
switch. The larger hose is for the automatic parking brake vacuum actuator.
Neither of these hoses would cause a brake pedal that is spongy or goes to 
the floor. The 'to the floor' condition would be more akin to a failed 
master cylinder or a failed wheel cylinder in the braking system, or it 
could be one of the 3 rubber brake hoses has failed. A 40 year old rubber 
brake hose should be tossed on principle alone.
If you have melted or detached hoses, you'd be hearing vacuum hiss from 
these, and likely have a less than optimal running motor. Hesitation on 
acceleration from a standing start, rough idle, and poor mileage would be 
some of the symptoms of vacuum leaks.
Replacing all the vacuum hoses on the engine compartment side of the 
firewall is a recommended procedure on a 40 year old car. I've just done 
that on my '63 Crown. Be sure to utilize the factory holding ties on the 
firewall to keep these hoses away from the exhaust manifold. I had hoses 
that weren't secured and they were melted, too.

Eric
'63 Crown Four-Door
'72 Newport Custom sedan

Subject: IML: BRAKES (63 LE BARON)
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2004 08:32:06 -0700
From: "Brandt Daniels" <bdaniels@xxxxxxxxx>
Reply-To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
My brakes have been spongy and making a hissing sound and going all the =
way to the floor on my 63 Le Baron. I looked under the hood and saw some =
rubber tubing that looks like it touched the exhaust manifold and =
melted. This tubing is not coming out of the brake booster but below it =
and inboard coming out of the bulkhead. There is a thicker tube about =
1/2" diameter and two thinner ones about 1/4" diameter...what are these =
tubes? and where do they go? theyre all loose tubes. 



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