Technical Brake fluid spraying out when I press brake pedal

[Firthy]

From front far side brake. I thought a pipe was worn through as it felt a bit worn on one side, so I taped it up with speed tape to test this theory, but the fluid seems to spraying from somewhere else. There's no standing leak, and it only happens when I press the pedal. Unfortunately, I'm on my own so I can't ask someone to have a look while I pump it.

It happened a minute or so after braking heavily at a roundabout, so I suspect that has forced something.

Any ideas folks before I get a chance to have a proper look tomorrow?

 

[Ziggy122]

3 things
1 - caution to bodywork as brake fluid will physically remove paint
2 - If its spraying, eye protection, you dont want it in your eyes
3 - if you get sprayed, rinse off well with water, Brake fluid is extremely poisonous to the body

Its time to have the car in the air - wheels off and investigate where damp patches are

Brake fluid squirting = Air entering
Air entering = less braking force been applied + Spongy pedal
Spongy pedal = Asking for an accident / crash as you cant stop

STOP DRIVING AND SORT IT!

I suspect a worn flexi, as there prone to aging and failing over years

Locate damp patches - clean up, and test, if new fluid appears its near by

Metal pipes can also rot, a small pin prick can cause a leak and cause the above problem

Borrow a friend, neighbour, family member to just press the pedal if you dare while observing

ziggy

 

[s and b]

:yeahthat:

cant add anything much but these puntos like all cars can go through brakes hoses due to age,rubbing,bad routing
do not drive it anywhere until sorted as the fluid in the master cylinder will soon be exhausted

 

[Firthy]

Thanks for the incredibly quick responses!

Obviously, I don't intend to drive it anywhere until it's properly sorted. Luckily I was parked outside my house when it actually went.

I did clean everything up before I tested it again, but the spray is pretty wide so it was extremely difficult to tell where it had come from. I'll get it up on some ramps tomorrow and do a proper inspection of all the pipes and hoses. Hopefully it's something as simple as that. I'll let you know how I get on...

Cheers.

 

[s and b]

Look on the brake master cylinder cover for what dot rating you need FOR BRAKE FLUID if doing job it yourself and take a photo of how the hose goes on the strut because it looks wrong when its right if you get me
The little metal pin holding the hose in the strut fasteners break so substitute it for a small tie clip if it does and use a little fairy liquid to get the grommit round the hose in and out of the fixing

 

[Firthy]

The optimist in me says the wide spray could be a good sign as it would indicate that the leak is a tiny hole in a pipe somewhere. We'll see.

 

[Firthy]

Look on the brake master cylinder cover for what dot rating you need FOR BRAKE FLUID if doing job it yourself and take a photo of how the hose goes on the strut because it looks wrong when its right if you get me
The little metal pin holding the hose in the strut fasteners break so substitute it for a small tie clip if it does and use a little fairy liquid to get the grommit round the hose in and out of the fixing

Dot 4. I've had an unopened bottle of it in my tool cupboard for a while now, just in case.

Cheers for the advice.

 

[Ziggy122]

The optimist in me says the wide spray could be a good sign as it would indicate that the leak is a tiny hole in a pipe somewhere. We'll see.

Dot 4. I've had an unopened bottle of it in my tool cupboard for a while now, just in case.

Cheers for the advice.

In thoery the Wide spray = tiny hole + Lots of pressure

Thats how injectors work to a degree

The Kitchen paper test should help
Stick a piece as big as possible over the pipe work - press brake pedal - look at paper

is it wet there?
How? Localised? Drained down

The results will tell you where to move too


Ziggy

 

[atom0007]

Hope it's the flexi pipes, easier to fix than rotten steel brake pipes. If you redo them, you can either buy from dealer, or make new with copper or copper nickel pipe.

Other places are unions and calliper piston seal, although these are probably not as likely.

 

[dave]

2 - If its spraying, eye protection, you dont want it in your eyes

ziggy

hurts like hell but makes ben laugh

 

[fingers99]

The optimist in me says the wide spray could be a good sign as it would indicate that the leak is a tiny hole in a pipe somewhere. We'll see.

Just don't get so optimistic that you drive the car!

 

[Firthy]

In thoery the Wide spray = tiny hole + Lots of pressure

Thats how injectors work to a degree

The Kitchen paper test should help
Stick a piece as big as possible over the pipe work - press brake pedal - look at paper

is it wet there?
How? Localised? Drained down

The results will tell you where to move too


Ziggy

That was my thinking.

I'll probably follow those steps exactly in the morning. At least it's the weather for it! Thanks ziggy.

 

[Firthy]

Just don't get so optimistic that you drive the car!

No chance of that. I've got kids, and I'm not really into mowing down pedestrians.

 

[Firthy]

Right, I've had a proper look this morning and it is the flexi-hose I suspected. It's been rubbing on a bracket in the wheel arch. Ordered a replacement one at my local auto factors and I'll be picking it up later on today. Just under 9 quid! I'll post photos when I actually change it, either tonight or tomorrow, just for future reference. Cheers gents.

 

[Ziggy122]

Right, I've had a proper look this morning and it is the flexi-hose I suspected. It's been rubbing on a bracket in the wheel arch. Ordered a replacement one at my local auto factors and I'll be picking it up later on today. Just under 9 quid! I'll post photos when I actually change it, either tonight or tomorrow, just for future reference. Cheers gents.

Ensure you refit correctly to prevent the new brake pipe rubbing through

There should be a little bracket to hold it securly, ensure you do this

I had a brand new one, without the bracket - rub against the wheel again and MOT fail it

Ziggy

 

[Firthy]

Ok, job done yesterday. New pipe cost me just over £8 from local Auto Factors. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to take many pictures as I only had a 1 hour window.

Anyway, here's the pipe before I changed it. I'd already pulled the circular rubber grommet out of the routing bracket before I took this, so it's shown loose. The red circle indicates the location of the wear, and the red arrow is the structure it had been rubbing against.

The green arrow points to a clip that holds the top pipe fitting in place. It confused me at first, but I simply tapped it with a hammer to loosen it (sideways, as it rotates), then pulled it off with some pliers (outwards), releasing the fitting.

Here's the hole:

Pretty severe really!

Before removing the old pipe, I cleaned up the end fittings with a toothbrush, but actually removing it was very easy. The only thing to note is that you have to remove the top fitting first as the entire pipe needs to rotate in order to undo the bottom one. Unfortunately, I didn't note down the sizes, but I managed to easily remove it with my standard spanner set.

And here's the new pipe fitted and routed accordingly.

Obviously, I bled the system afterwards (using an Eezibleed and the spare tyre pressure!), and everything is back to normal. Pretty pleased with myself really, although I wish I'd had more time.

 

[Brendan W]

Is it my imagination or has the old hose been ratcheting inboard through the grommet and has the protective sleeve gone for a walk from it's post?

 

[Firthy]

Is it my imagination or has the old hose been ratcheting inboard through the grommet and has the protective sleeve gone for a walk from it's post?

Yeah, I'm pretty sure you're right. Also, that section of protective sleeving is 'floating' so is able to slide up and down the pipe. I made some minor adjustments after I'd lowered the car to ensure it was in the right place, but not much.

 

[Brendan W]

Steering lock limiters?

 

[Firthy]

Steering lock limiters?