Front Brakes Dragging

The pistons are frozen in the calipers.  The fix is to remove the front calipers, force the pistons out (compressed air or grease), clean everything, and reassemble with new rubber.  Our vendors offer rebuilt calipers on an exchange basis.  SACC and others offer new Wilwood calipers that are bolt on replacements.

It sounds like your calipers are original and it could a chore to rebuild them.  You may have to replace the pistons due to pitting from corrosion.

Your flex brake lines are probably original and should be replaced.

It looks like you are in Orange County.  Perhaps our club (OC Panteras) can lend a hand.  There is a club meeting tonight starting a 6PM.

https://www.ocpanteras.com/index_events.html

I was reading some more before testing anything.  Since both front wheels have the same issues it could be master cylinder related?

I saw what you said Steve, I did replace the flex lines around 8 years ago. You could be 100% correct on calipers I dont know yet. Since it is both fronts I really need to find out how they act after I open the bleed vavle. If they dont move after I open the bleed vavle I would tend to think its the bleeping calipers. Nothing has been easy so far but my killer arthritis has been in check lately so I have my hopes up on finding the solution.  If its the calipers maybe I can find a shop that rebuilds them. Thanks for your answer.

@daxters75 - As Steve mentioned, if you are in So. Calif and close to OC, the OC Panteras is having our Monthly Social / Meeting tonight.  You can come and meet other Pantera Owners.  I am going through my Pantera also.  IMO, I would buy some new calibers from one of the vendors and be done with it.  The stock calibers are 50-Years old and a lot of technology has been made on brake calibers.  I caution on safety when it comes to stopping my car.

Hope to see you tonight.  Larry

Oh i forgot to reply about meetings in OC.  I live on the east coast now with lots of old people. 

I took this picture of the master cylinder and ewwwwwww it looks sick.  Leaky and rusty. Oh yeah I think I bought this master almost 30 years ago from Hall. He was always nice to me but so was Wilkinson (super nice). So the guys at PIM always nice too. Helped me with lots of issues long time ago. Wow the Dot 3 fluid looks like Jeds and grannys backyard oil. Yes lots of work in my future.

So where on the east coast did you settle?

So I opened both bleeder valves to see if they were under pressure after I pumped the brakes and few times, just dribbled out like normal. After seeing how old things are and how important brakes are....looks like new calipers and a master cylinder is in my future. Posted another picture.  Next to my brake lind theres a wire that goes to the caliper. Some kind of wear warning or what? I only have 3 idiot lights on my dash and I dont think thats one of them.  Ok so the miracle part is I sprayed the rusted caked bleeders with my blaster juice and after I watched them do nothing for 20 minutes, I got them both to turn without breaking.

Soon after that my wife came in the garage and wanted to know if I was crazy?  I told her if I was crazy I would ask her to help.  I told her what it needs next and she said buy it.  I got dizzy and looked up some parts quickly.....lol

I was not bleeding them, was checking to verify if the return vent was plugged in the master. I opened one at a time. So I'm guessing there was no fluid pressure pushing the piston out. Which should mean caliper is stuck most likely from corrosion. Car has been sitting in high humidity area doing nothing for 3 years.  Not bad idea getting new master and calipers.

Don't like the wire with voltage. I'm not going to worry about it. Has not been an issue and will just install in the new ones.

Wow!

I can see why youre so popular here helping out the inexperienced.

Not sure where marlinjack was going with that or why.

Yes, daxters75 it would be recommended to change everything. I suggest calling Scott at SACC. He has helped a substantial amount of owners on here with brake kits. If he no longer has what you need he will at least have the recommended part numbers of the Wilwood products that fit properly.

Get the brakes working and go enjoy your car again. Also get it out of the high humidity. A large portable dehumidifier where your car is stored may help you out in the future dealing with the preservation of your car.