Brakes leaking...yet another problem, any ideas?

[Claude]

Well i hate to say it but I have yet another problem. My brake fluid is leaking...i think just from the resorvoir onto wehr it conects to the master cylinder. When i cheked the brake fluid level after my purchase of the car it was all gone, completely. So i added brake fluid the proper type and full amount. Now i am looking at it and it is wayyy low again it was full now is about a little ove ra quarter way full so there is a definite leak and I can see that the master cylinder is wet so my guess is it is leaking where the resorvoir connects to the cylinder. Is there an easy fix to this? Help please.:spiderman:

[Pu241]

Pics might help.
I've never had a master cylinder (MC) leak from the reservoir.
Not saying it can't happen, but are you sure the wet on the MC is hydraulic fluid or could you have spilled some during the fill-up?
How long did it take to leak to this point?

[resuwrecked]

sure its leaking at the reservoir and not from where it bolts to the booster? may be leaking from the piston seal. also trace your brake lines and look for wet spots. check your wheel cylinders, or at least see if fluid is coming out from the rear brake drums, sounds like its leaking bad enough to if it is them.

[Claude]

i didnt spill any, pplus i filled it up roughly 2 weeks ago so that is the length it has taken for it to go down this far. also the brake light is on, which i thought was just for the parking brake but when i let it down it remaind on which i guess means brake problem. eh im new to this all so sorry if im not as savvy to everyhting.

[Pu241]

Claude, nothing to be sorry about!
Fortunately for you there are a number of members in MD, how close to you I don't know, but hoping someone can drop by and give your car a once over.
I concur with resuwrecked concerning the leak possibly being at the vac booster MC interface.
That's why I'd like to have pics as you may not realize were the MC ends and the vac booster begins.

[Zanzer]

Claude, I had the same problem on my car. It would take it couple of weeks to leak down and it was all over the booster and master cylinder so I replaced the master cylinder thinking it was the O rings that seal the piston (which is typically the problem). Did the same thing with the new MC so I cleaned everything good with brake cleaner and watched it like a hawk for a couple of days. Turns out it was the grommets that seal the reservoir to the MC. I looked everywhere for new ones but couldn't find a thing, nothing even close. So what I did to fix it was I cut 2 pieces of 1/4" neoprene hose about 1/2" long, just enough to fill the gap between the barb end on the reservoir and the base. Then I stretched them over the barbs and reinstalled the grommets. This did a great job of tightening them up. It's been 6 months now and no leaks.

[Pu241]

zanzer,
Any way you could get pics to help Claude with this.
I think he will need some hand holding to get this done properly and safely.

[batstiva]

Best I can do until I find where ever I put the new/ spare M/C I got a couple of weeks ago.







If I can locate my M/C, I'll shoot some pics of that as well.

[Zanzer]

zanzer,
Any way you could get pics to help Claude with this.
I think he will need some hand holding to get this done properly and safely.

I would if I had an extra MC to use as an example. I REALLY don't wanna take mine back off since I've finally got it sealed

I look around tomorrow and see if I can find a car in the yard that has the same basic setup that I can use to get some pics of the proceedure.

[Claude]

Claude, I had the same problem on my car. It would take it couple of weeks to leak down and it was all over the booster and master cylinder so I replaced the master cylinder thinking it was the O rings that seal the piston (which is typically the problem). Did the same thing with the new MC so I cleaned everything good with brake cleaner and watched it like a hawk for a couple of days. Turns out it was the grommets that seal the reservoir to the MC. I looked everywhere for new ones but couldn't find a thing, nothing even close. So what I did to fix it was I cut 2 pieces of 1/4" neoprene hose about 1/2" long, just enough to fill the gap between the barb end on the reservoir and the base. Then I stretched them over the barbs and reinstalled the grommets. This did a great job of tightening them up. It's been 6 months now and no leaks.

ok theres no pics or instruction on the hose part and the fitting which is really where i would be confused...also are you saying i need new "grommets" by the way this is almost positively my issue as the mc seems to be leaking from that area exactly so im guessing this wil resolve. but yeah where can i find new grommets?

[Zanzer]

Sorry it took me a little to get back to this, been a busy day.

Anyway, since I didn't want to tear my MC back down and I don't have 10 parts cars like some of you guys (you know who you are = P) we will be using a master cylinder from a 1989 Ford Escort for this little demonstration. I only show how it's done on the front barb because the rear one on an Escort is HUGE. The front is pretty close to the size of the barbs on our cars.

Also, the tubing I used is Norprene which I think may be a brand name for neoprene. I don't think it really matters what you use as long as it's resistant to solvents. I get this tubing from work so you'll have to check with the local hardware stores. I know the Lowes here has a big tubing selection.




I'll pick up where the pics from the manual left off. Here's a pic of everything disassembled. We have the reservoir, the grommet, and the master cylinder:



The tubing size is 1/4" ID x 3/8" OD with a 1/16" wall. The thin wall is the important thing here since we're just looking to make a bushing to tighten up the factory grommet. Although, you don't want to go too big on the ID or it will be too loose to create a good seal


Take a razor blade or scissors and cut a small length of the tubing just long enough the fit between the flat end of the barb on the reservoir and the base.


Slide the cut section of tubing over the end of a pair of needle nose pliers.


Open the pliers to stretch out the tubing.


Then slide/work the stretched tubing over the reservoir barb.


Pull out the pliers and ensure that the tubing is flat and uniform around the barb. It should look similar to this.



Repeat the last 5 steps (cut, stretch, install, inspect) for the other reservoir barb.


Now reinstall the factory grommets back into the master cylinder. It helps if you apply a small amount of grease on the outside for lubrication.




Next apply some of the grease to the inside of the factory grommets so it will make the installation of the reservoir MUCH easier. Then push the reservoir, with the new bushings installed, back into the master cylinder body.

1

2

3


Reinstall the screw that holds the reservoir to the master cylinder and you should be ready to go!

Hope this helps

[Claude]

cool thanks man this does help. let you all know how it goes when i am able to get around to the project!

[bobbyspider]

im having the same problem so i think ill try this and see what happens thanks zanzer

[geno]

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to batstiva again.

:p

[batstiva]

^^ Huh? What??