One more possibility. The flexible rubber brake hose may be bad. What happens is that the inner rubber liner separates from the hard outer liner. It then acts like a one way valve; First, the master cylinder 'pushes' the brake fluid into the slave cylinder. Then, when the you release the pedal, the master cylinder tries to 'suck' the fluid back into itself. This low pressure condition causes the inner rubber liner to collapse, locking the fluid in the slave cylinder. I think, however, that this is a more common problem in disk braked systems. My '57 Dodge has had 'grabbing' brakes, and it has been when the car has been sitting and brake fluid has leaked out, contaminating the pads and drums. Brake Parts cleaner usually solves the problem (and new slave cylinders would solve it permanently if I ever get around to it!) |