Bendix Treadle Vac failure (Easamatic)

Posted by Warren J. Erickson On 2011/9/19 8:57:33

Hi Guys:

Almost devine intervention here! I recently adjusted my Emergency Brakes. Due to the horror stories, I've read on this board, about the Treadle Vac. Well guess what? I had one of those failures, coming home from a car show, yesterday.

On coming to a stop sign. The brake pedal went slowly to the floor. With minimal braking action. Thank god for the recently adjusted Emergency brake! On repeated pumps, I got some braking action back. But it wasn't right.

I drove slowly home, on pins and needles. With the Emergency Brake as my backup. It worked beautiful, by the way. Better, I thought, than a 2 wheel mechanical brake ever would.

On arriving home, I checked for leaks around the wheel cylinders. There appeared to be none. The fluid level, in the master cylinder appeared to be good also. So this appears to be a bonifide BTV failure.

The BTV in my Packard was rebuild professionally about 20 years ago. So that doesn't bother me. But the mode of failure does!!

I think I read, someone on this board, is doing a study on these failures. Well you can add this to that study.

Thanks for the warnings about the BTV!! I wouldn't have known this if it weren't for you guys! It possibly saved my Packard. And or someone elses life of property.

Finally; Adjust those emergency brakes!! They actually work quite good when adjusted.

Warren