Supra (A70)

1986-1993 / Coupe / Japan

All Supra (A70) problems All workshop problems

Common Brakes

Brake Master Cylinder Internal Bypass

Symptoms

The brake pedal slowly sinks to the floor under sustained pressure (sitting at a traffic light with foot on the brake). The pedal may feel normal on initial application but gradually loses firmness.

Cause

The internal seals in the master cylinder wear and allow fluid to bypass internally. This is a common age-related failure on any car of this vintage. The seal degradation is accelerated by old, moisture-contaminated brake fluid.

Fix

Replace the master cylinder ($200-400 for a new or remanufactured unit, 1-2 hours to fit).

Flush the entire brake system with fresh DOT4 fluid after replacement.

This is not a rebuildable item on the A70 — replacement is the correct fix.

Cost mentioned in fix

$200-400 for a

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Other known issues

Critical Brakes

Front Caliper Seizure

The car pulls to one side under braking. One front wheel is noticeably hotter than the other after driving. Uneven pad wear. In severe cases, a dragging sensation and smell of hot brakes.

Common Engine, 7M-GTE (Turbo)

Head Gasket Failure

The head gasket blows, allowing coolant into the combustion chambers and/or oil passages. White smoke from the exhaust, coolant loss without visible external leak, overheating under boost, milky oil on the filler cap, and bubbles in the coolant overflow tank. In severe cases, hydrolock (coolant filling a cylinder and bending a connecting rod on startup).

Critical Engine, 7M-GTE (Turbo)

Low Oil Pressure at Idle

Oil pressure drops below 10 psi at hot idle. The factory oil pressure warning light may flicker or illuminate at idle, particularly in traffic on hot days. The engine may develop bearing noise (deep knocking from the bottom end).

Common Engine, 7M-GTE (Turbo)

CT-26 Turbo Failure

Loss of boost pressure, excessive oil smoke (blue/grey) on startup or deceleration, whistling or grinding noises from the turbo, and oil in the intercooler piping.

Critical Engine, 7M-GTE (Turbo)

Cooling System Inadequacy Under Boost

Coolant temperature climbs rapidly under sustained boost, particularly in traffic or on hot days. The temperature gauge sits higher than normal and doesn't recover quickly.

Common Engine, 7M-GTE (Turbo)

Fan Clutch Wear

The engine runs hotter than normal, particularly at low speeds and idle. The cooling fan doesn't seem to pull much air through the radiator.

All Supra (A70) problems