Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2004 21:51:17 -0600
Reply-To: John Rodgers <jh_rodgers@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <jh_rodgers@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject: Re: Fluid leaking from underdash
In-Reply-To: <3FFDF009.5070508@netscape.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
You got it right. That is the clutch master. I had to change mine on my
88 GL. It is not a bad job, just takes a little time. A couple of
cautions. There are some little copper seals that you DO NOT want to
lose. You will need them when it goes back together. It has been a
while, and the details are a bit fuzzy now, but I began by using a
siphon made of plastic tubing and simply drained the fluid from the tank
under the Instrument pod into a bottle. I held the tube in the tank with
the bottle sitting on the ground. Worked great.
Be sure you use plenty of rags down below while you are working to catch
excess fluid that may run out. When you are done with the job, you may
want to consider washihng and vacuming your floor and carpet to get rid
of the brake fluid. Not good to leave it in the carpet or the sub
flooring. I parked my van so it was leaning slightly to the left, mixed
a bucket of warm sudsy water, pulled the carpet, and got in there and
had at it. with the water and a brush. Did the same on the carpet. When
done, I flushed it all out with a good flooding of clear water. By
leaning over, the water just ran right out. After the water treatment, I
flooded the whole thing with alcohol, then set a fan to blow on it.
Water is extremely miscible in alcohol, and then when the alcohol
evaporates off it takes the water with it. The alcohol draws water from
all the little pores as it evaporates.
Once the new master cylinder was back in, and all lines tightened, I
filled the tank, cracked open the nut ant the bottom fo the valve,
pumped the peddle once and got some fluid out, then immediately
tightened the nut. That was sufficient to clear any air. Then I pumped
the peddle 50 times or better and finally got a peddle pressure. After
that everything worked fine. I had read somewhere that the clutch system
is self bleeding in that respect.
Good Luck.
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
BillM wrote:
> This has been a hell week for vehicles. First the rear of the 91 gets
> soaked from water leaking in.
> Then the rear brakes started squealing real bad. Now I just noticed that
> there is brake fluid leaking
> from under the dash on to the steering wheel/pedal area. It's leaking
> from a boot on I can feel above
> the pedal cluster. Is this the clutch master cylinder? Any tips for
> replacing it? How about bleeding the
> system? Does it need to be bench bled like a brake master cylinder?
>
> Bill M
> Mystic,CT
>
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