The guys in the Electrical Bay helped me get her started, but, wouldn't you know, the brakes don't work. Push the pedal, no resistance. Check the fluid in the master cylinder, dry as a popcorn fart.
About 10-12 years ago, I rebuilt the brakes at each wheel (honed the cylinder or bought new, bought new drums, etc., but left original lines), filled the master cylinder with fluid and bled the system, and they worked fine for many years of VERY intermittent use. The entire time she has been stored in a weather-tight barn, though mice roam freely (how does a mouse climb on top of a fender?). The last time I drove her was maybe 2 years ago, and the brakes worked. Today, the MC is bone dry.
So, the fluid persisted for a decade, but in the last two years has leaked or evaporated or been drunk by mice. I have not done a proper under-truck inspection yet, but after moving the truck I don't observe any residue of anything on the floor near the wheels, and I couldn't tell if the MC leaked because of all the oil pan leakage (onto cardboard) that would obscure that.
After a quick but unproductive search of the forums, I have two questions:
1) If it were you, would you just fill the MC with fluid and bleed the system and hope the brakes work for many months, or would you overhaul the master cylinder (as I am inclined to do regardless of the cause of this problem)? Of course, it could be that neither of those things is the right first thing to do. I will inspect everything when I have a chance. The lines are metal; maybe they're rusted through.
2) Given these symptoms, could anyone hazard a guess as to likely cause?
Thanks for any help.
