Brake issue(s) on my 72 Dart

Car in question is my 72 Dart. It has factory manual drum brakes on all 4 corners.

The car has been sitting since about last summer,and I just got it back running yesterday.

Im having some issues with the brakes.Upon pushing the brakes when I first got it running again,the pedal went to the floor. I checked the fluid,and the rear reservoir(closest to the firewall) was empty. I topped it off with some fresh fluid,reinstalled the cap on the master and proceeded to push the pedal again. It still wnet to the floor,until I pumped it up.I had pedal,pretty low,but I had pedal.

I took off driving around the area(slowly) and when I went to brake,the pedal went to the floor again. I could pump them up to slow down but they would always go to the floor the next time I needed to brake.

So now I check the fluid and its still full.

Where do I start research on this issue? Does it sound like a Master Cylinder issue or a wheel cylinder issue?


Or is it as simple as bleeding either the master,the wheel cylinders or both?

First you need to bleed your brake system,if that doesn't cure your problem, then your master cyclinder is bi passing on the inside, rebuild it or try to find a new one. Is the any fluid leaking behind M/C?

I see no evidence of any fluid leaking behind the master cylinder,on either side of the firewall.

I am home alone so I am gonna give gravity bleeding a shot. As Understand it,the steps are as follows:

Remove cover from master cylinder

Top off Master cylinder

Starting with the passenger rear loosen bleeder valve

Proceed to drivers rear,=passenger front and then drivers front.

Always keep fluid topped off

When it appears all air has been bled,retighten bleeder valves in reverse order of opening.

Is this correct for gravity bleeding?

What about the master cylinder,should I bench bleed it on the car as well? Or should the Wheels be good enough?

The gravity bleeding works, I had to do that on mine after my rear diff change. Just make sure you keep the MC full. Also make sure your brakes are adjusted up on all 4 as well.

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What about the master cylinder,should I bench bleed it on the car as well? Or should the Wheels be good enough?

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Bench bleed the M/C on the car 1st then the corners (your order is correct). Just make sure you dont pull air back in past the bleeder screws in the process (very common).