Technical Argh no brakes!!!

[abarth stabler]

So Friday night I was driving home from work and the car felt a bit strange, pulled over in a fuel station forecourt to see what it was and within a minute there was a pool of fluid under the car.

It looked like it was coming from the propshaft input on the gearbox and there was a lot of it. Figured there was nothing I could do but to get the car home. Looked like it had stopped leaking yesterday when I went to work as there was only a few drops underneath.

Yesterday the Way to work everything felt fairly normal but on the way home the brake warning light wouldn't go off. The roads was clear so decided to check my brakes when travelling at about 50mph, Brakes were spongey but did stop the car. Got to the bottom of my street, pressed the pedal and it went all the way to the floor... Arse!

Checked the fluid level once I got up the drive... Empty!

All the copper brake lines were replaced in December by Allen who I bought the car off and he did a pretty good job, can't see it been those as they all feel dry.

Rubber hoses all appear to be in good nick and where the puddle of fluid was leaves me to believe that it's the master cylinder, reservoir or servo, are these prone to failure? Is there anything else I'm missing as all these parts feel dry and clean

 

[Dragon Man]

well.. put in some fluid and see where it leaks from.. umm.. if you suspect the mater cylinder then replace it. for what they cost, the peace of mind is all the payment you need.

i am not sure how the pipes were connected.. on mine i replaced everything. you have got to watch out for chafing on the bodywork though. yeah even copper pipes can chafe through.

get a minion to pump the brake pedal while you look for any leaks.. whilst wearing a pair of goggles! you do not want to get that stuff in your eyes!
also do it when the car is cold. you do not want to know what happens when brake fluid hits a hot exhaust!

 

[abarth stabler]

Righty ho, will give that a try in the morning. Is it common for the diaphragm In the servo to fail? Just thinking it may have leaked there.

Can't see it been an expensive repair. I have a good condition master cylinder on the red one I can borrow temporarily if that's the case. It has no servo on the 900 but I believe the master to be the same.

Just a pain in the back side. supposed to be doing a 90 mile trip to Durham tomorrow but if I can't fix it I'm gonna be driving a mundane 09 plate Kia picanto.... Can't think of anything worse!

 

[Dragon Man]

they have been known to fail, but they have nothing to do with any of the brake fluid. you can test them by starting the engine for a few seconds, then shutting it off. then pull the white pipe out of the servo assist. if you hear it suck in air then it would be holding a vacuum well.

i guess that if the end seal ever went in the master cylinder then it would fill with fluid.. this would be a really bad thing though :/

my money.. i would say its a brake union connection that has failed on the brake pipe that goes down to the rear brakes. they can be a pain to get right.. its why i dont like having joints in my pipework. if i need to replace a section of pipe, i will just replace the whole length.

when you find the cause though let me know

 

[firstcar-Y10]

Durham eh, anything exciting?
If you are in my neck of the woods I do have a fair stash of parts if you figure out what you need to get you up and running again.

 

[abarth stabler]

It was leaking at the front of the car as the fluid was dripping down the Richard gere box. I will update in the morning as I'm gonna get to the root of it.

My mrs lives in Newton aycliffe so I go up there every couple of weeks to visit, could drop in for a cuppa and a look around your stash, I get bored easily when I'm up there as I have nowt to do, where abouts in Durham are you?

 

[firstcar-Y10]

pm sent.

 

[abarth stabler]

Problem sorted...

The copper pipe that goes from the master cylinder to the compensator on the rear axle had came out of the plastic clip that holds it in place above the gearbox.

The pipe had been contacting the propshaft and gearbox and when I went green laning the other day it's obviously crushed or chaffed the pipe as dragon man said. This also snapped in half when I removed it.

Had some new copper pipe knocking about so flared made up a new piece that was slightly longer. 104" if I remember rightly. Re routed the pipe flush to the body of the car this time feeding it over the brake servo as it came into less contact with moving parts, bleed the brakes, adjusted handbrake while I was at it and took it for a test drive.
Works great!! Happy days

 

[Dragon Man]

Ahh glad it was nothing too serious to fi.