By weez6x6 on Unrecorded Date: Edit

--when i'm driving it, and it starts to get hot(about an hour)and when trying to make a right turn . the right lever just goes down as far as it can go (like a hydraulic problem with no pressure) and it won't turn. Then I let it cool down for 15 mins and the right lever goes back to normal.any suggestions?thanks

By jerrynuss on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Are you getting any leakage or can you see any movement between the halves of the calipers? Are you using DOT 5 brake fluid? How is the fluid level and are the lines flexing or buldging in any spots? Have you ever rebuilt the calipers? Are the brake pads moving to clamp then release? How much pad is left on each side of the disc and are they moving evenly?

I had this problem and it was a bad o-ring between th halves of the calipers. I did a caliper rebuild and put in new DOT 5 and the brakes work fine now.

By Skip Saul (Giantdog) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Brake flude will draw moister it is a normal part of it's chemical make up and shuld be changed every couple of years if not changed then when it get's hot the water expands and can some times cause brakes to fail it will cause rust to form around the caliper cylinders and on the wall this will make them to stick and make the appallacion sponge like and some times lock up this sounds like what you may be talking about change the flude and clean up the calipers refill and bleed the system it shuld work fine

By jerrynuss on Unrecorded Date: Edit

The Argo vanguard 2 is supposed to have DOT 5 fluid which is silicone based and is hydrophobic or nonhydroscopic. So it is not supposed to draw moisture. Dot 5 can get a lot of bubbles in it and the bubbles are hard to get out. The bubbles will case the brake feel to be spongy and if heated up it can cause loss of braking. The fluid is also slighty compressable so it also feels spongy compared to other fluids.

Changing the fluid is a good idea after everything else is checked otherwise you would just be wasting fluid.


If you are using a DOT 3 or 4... don't mix it with DOT 5. Dot 3 and 4 will really absorb moisture and cause the boiling and rusting problems. Whenever you buy brake fluid buy it in a small container and use it up. Large containers are easily contaminated with time. In the brake system Giantdog is absolutely correct about changing it every couple of years and if you are getting your vanguard wet or dirty or in a moisture rich environment then you may want to do it annually or more frequently. The moisture is drawn in by the hydroscopic fluid, through condensation and through the rubber hoses.

Without a refractometer to see the moisture in the flid the system may look perfectly fine with good components and full of fluid but you may get a sudden unexplained failure. Most likely it is caused by moisture reaching the boiling point and vaporizing. With frequent applications of the brakes for steering they heat up rater quickly.

By WEEZ6X6 ( - 152.163.100.201) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

THANKS GUYS I'LL GIVE THAT A SHOT WITH CHANGING THE FLUID AND CHECKING THE O-RING

By fred on Unrecorded Date: Edit

WEEZ6X6, When we have run into that problem, we have had to rebuild the master cylinder to solve the problem. Argo has a kit that cost very little, and is simple to install. I stock the kit, or you can buy it from any Argo dealer. Fred