The brakes in my Ford Focus all of a sudden went out then came back. It seems like it might be the master cylinder. I just had a new clutch put in, does that have anything to do with the master cylinder? Could the mechanics have messed that up in the process of installing the clutch?
It could be the brake caliper piston binding or master cylinder plunger leak-by. You may want to check the vacuum line that goes to the brake booster.
Not related to the clutch - that doesn't attach to the brake system. The problem you had sounds like air in the brake lines or a bad master cylinder. You can't tell without checking the whole system. If the brake fluid is at normal levels then you may need to have the master cylinder rebuilt. If the brake fluid is low, you might need to have the brakes bled. Low fluid is often a sign that the brakes are worn or a wheel cylinder is leaking.
