Date:         Wed, 23 Feb 2011 23:00:29 -0500
Reply-To:     Gregg Carlen <gregg.carlen@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Gregg Carlen <gregg.carlen@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Loose brake master cylinder resevoir
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

So there's no suprise that my new van has more suprises in store for me.

Driving the other day and the brake pedal goes almost to the floor. Thought
I might have lost a brake line or a brake piston or some other oriface that
fluid would leak out. When I got home (yes, it still stops, just the pedal
goes almost comletely to the floor). The braking also became very
squishy/soft.  I first checkd the master brake fluid resvoir. It was normal
(just below the max line). Just to be sure, I did the usual crawl around
underneath looking for leaks and under the master cylinder for anything that
might be leaking. Nothing. Dry everywhere.

Then I noticed the master cylinder resevoir itself was loose. Kind of
wobbling on top of the master cyclinder. This is a new master cylinder (PO
said he had it replaced and the old one is in a box in the back with other
spare parts).

I'm suspecting that I wasn't leaking any fluid, but that I've sucked air
into the brake lines. I think when the PO had the master cylinder replaced
that the resevoir plugs (Bently 47.2) were reused and not replaced with new.
If I gently/carefully rock the resevoir, I can see that one of the plugs has
moisture around its edges.

So, besides asking your collective opinion as to what might have failed in
the brakes, is there a way that the master brake resevoir is SUPPOSED to be
secured? Or, is it just held in place by the 2 resevoir plugs?

Cheers,
Gregg
90 Westy