Brake fluid leak around master Brake cylinder: Dear Fellow Syncronauts, I started seeing "wet spots " on the carpet below steering wheel about 2 months ago, at first I thought it was water, but soon noticed the spots were not drying. The brakes were working ok, but could be stiffer. I usually leave the syncro parked in my garage, but had occassion to leave it in the sun for several days undriven. Then I found alot more fluid had leaked down, finding its was to the stepwell at drivers side door, and immediatly dissolving the paint inside & out, an auful mess... I figured the sun & heat must have caused some pressure that forced the leak? I removed the instrument panel and found the fluid on the MB cylinder. I had had the MB cylinder replaced 2-3 yrs ago with a 1 yr warrenteed rebuilt. I couldnt believe it was already gone bad?? But the resavoir was near empty. I cleaned & dried it off and refilled it with fresh fluid, and put a piece of paper under it to try & determine where the leak came from? I let it sit for a WEEK (without driving it) and very little fluid has come out, only about 3 drops, (but it is parked back in my cool garage). So far a drop seems to develope on the nut on the bottom of the cylinder but could be comming frome above, I suspect the rubber seals to resavoir which do appear to have a little fluid around them... Im trying to determine if the leak is the master brake cylinder, in which case does it need to be replaced? or is it comming from a connecting line or the rubber connectors above it that "seal" the resavoir?? In which case the MB cylinder wouldnt need to be replaced, that wouldnt solve the problem...?? I would like to hear from others who have had a similar problem, what your experience had been... Also I if it is the cylinder itself that needs replacing, I wouldnt buy another with a one year warrentee. I notice there are two rebuilds out there at FLAPS with LIFETIME WARRENTEES: one for $85 (DURALAST) and the other is A-1 Cordon for $100. I figure if they have a lifetime warrentee I should be in good shape...??!! Thanks for any thoughts.... Cmdr. Syncronaut Peter Igo '87 vw vanagon Westy Syncronaut 85K |
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