Brake fluid leaking....grrr!

djnee Officially Full-On Dubber

341 posts · joined Mar 2009 · 6 Jul 2009, 2:34 pm

#722516

Righty, this is where i am at the moment...any advice appreciated!

Been driving the car for a few days, all fine & dandy....yesterday i notice that the brake pedal is not 'at the top' like a few days ago, so i put it down to the brakes having worn in and need adjusting up as it's not been driven for a while...plus master cylinder has been replaced.
So i set about adjusting them to find that they are fine, no adjustment needed.
So i look in the brake fluid reservoir and there's no fluid in there at all.
Bugger...lol

I have had a good look around but can't find where the bloody hell it's leaked. I've not taken the drums off yet to check the wheel cylinders, but i'd have thought to empty the reservoir there would be tell-tale signs of fluid in the usual places, but there's nothing anywhere.
Topped up the reservoir and have been pumping the brakes for the last 20 minutes in the hope that something will show somewhere, but nothing.
What's the next step?
I guess i'll whack the drums off and have a gander at the wheel cylinders?

Any help appreciated, as it's already doing my shed in.

Thanks

Neil

It May Never End

ian.mezz I never said, I could write or spell

3,913 posts · joined Sep 2004 · 6 Jul 2009, 2:48 pm

#722521

is it five wheels stud or four and and is it 4 wheel drums???

😂🤪😂🤪😂
car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲

djnee Officially Full-On Dubber

341 posts · joined Mar 2009 · 6 Jul 2009, 2:51 pm

#722522

It's 5 stud...drums all round

It May Never End

ian.mezz I never said, I could write or spell

3,913 posts · joined Sep 2004 · 6 Jul 2009, 2:59 pm

#722523

djnee wrote:It's 5 stud...drums all round

just take the hub caps off and there should be two big holes in the drum and u can shine a light in to look for leaks

😂🤪😂🤪😂
car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 6 Jul 2009, 4:57 pm

#722534

if its leaking at the wheel cyclinders you will find brake fluid on the backing plates and inside of the wheels as well

I read it on FACEBOOK so it must be true

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=91278&page=1#pid848630

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=63561&page=1#pid624099

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=4832&page=1#pid452603

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60650&page=1#pid574409

Thinker Seriously Crusin Dubber

162 posts · joined Oct 2008 · 6 Jul 2009, 5:05 pm

#722536

did the fluid go down the second time and did you bleed the system when you put it in.

1970 bug /1500 stock as a rock.
1976 standard bug ready to be modified 😁😁😁😁😁

1500S Custom Title Time!

1,418 posts · joined Mar 2005 · 6 Jul 2009, 5:17 pm

#722544

Are you sure it's not the master cyl leaking? If it is, it will be leaking back into the mounting bulkhead so you usually don't see any traces for a while.

DH

djnee Officially Full-On Dubber

341 posts · joined Mar 2009 · 6 Jul 2009, 5:23 pm

#722548

Many thanks for your help...
From your advice i've traced it back to the top of the master cylinder...seems to be leaking from the feed pipe.
Not removed it yet, but will have a play tomorrow and see if the rubber has a split or something.

Didn't spot this immediately as it's a pain to try and get a good look at it without some decent ramps or a pit.....so i chucked the digi-cam on macro and shoved it up there and took a few pics!

1 attachment · Log in to view

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hellbugged 48's and straight cuts

5,080 posts · joined Apr 2003 · 6 Jul 2009, 6:23 pm

#722562

check the hard line that runs up the drivers side of the tunnel too........under the carpet, fluid on the floor

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 6 Jul 2009, 7:53 pm

#722592

give the feed line a PULL up slightly to remove pressure on it
looks like its jammed down hard into the rubber this may fix

Wash the area with water hose and see if it still leaks when all dry

sometimes the feed lines can COCK and push the fluid out

I read it on FACEBOOK so it must be true

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=91278&page=1#pid848630

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=63561&page=1#pid624099

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=4832&page=1#pid452603

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60650&page=1#pid574409

djnee Officially Full-On Dubber

341 posts · joined Mar 2009 · 6 Jul 2009, 11:19 pm

#722658

Will check under carpets tomorrow too, just in case.

vw54...i totally understand what you mean when you say about pulling the lead pipe up slightly, but can i confirm what you mean by:

vw54 wrote:sometimes the feed lines can COCK and push the fluid out

Thanks all for your ongoing help 🙂

It May Never End

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 7 Jul 2009, 6:39 am

#722669

cock side ways and cause the rubber not to sit right so the fluid leaks around the pipe or between housing n rubber

did u have a look at the inner backing plates and wheels

I read it on FACEBOOK so it must be true

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=91278&page=1#pid848630

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=63561&page=1#pid624099

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=4832&page=1#pid452603

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60650&page=1#pid574409

djnee Officially Full-On Dubber

341 posts · joined Mar 2009 · 7 Jul 2009, 8:44 am

#722681

vw54 wrote:cock side ways and cause the rubber not to sit right so the fluid leaks around the pipe or between housing n rubber

did u have a look at the inner backing plates and wheels

Looked all around the wheels..totally dry.

It May Never End

djnee Officially Full-On Dubber

341 posts · joined Mar 2009 · 7 Jul 2009, 12:12 pm

#722706

Righty....

Took the rubber plug out of the top and it looked fine....not mis-shapen or cracked etc... so i resat it in there and (touch wood) all seems fine. There is a teeny bit of 'glistening' around the base, but that may just be from before...but at least there are no drips evident as of yet...will keep my eye on it obviously.
Bled the brakes and all seems cool again.

Can i say thanks again to the great people on this site for your advice...top job 👍

It May Never End