Brake master cyl leak?

[mkIIIman089]

Okay, now just before I was just checking something out pertaining to the master cyl (actually toying with the idea kind of a "just to see" thing what its like with a true no ABS system, since I saw the debate thread about it on SF. But this is not about that.)

Anywho, I noticed this which worried me a little bit because of the guy who recently saw his car blow up because of something with this area of the brakes:

Now, I have actually never noticed this until now and no loss of brake fluid has been apparent to me. However, I also don't know how long this has been going on, obviously the seal to the brake booster is leaking; but does that seal actually hold in brake fluid? It seems to me more that the master cyl should hold all the fluid in itself and it's leaking out of it, hence could be leaking into the booster. Over time fluid in booster seems to = boom.

So could anyone enlighten me on what could be happening here?

 

[e90suprat]

If you're not losing a lot of fluid, then its probably just the gasket on the master cylinder leaking. Pull the master and replace the gasket, but check the booster to make sure that no fluid is getting in, if there is, replace that bad boy with the quickness. A reman. booster will run about $85 and its fairly easy to replace. Hope this helps

 

[mkIIIman089]

Would it not be a seal inside the master cyl? Shouldn't all the brake fluid be sealed in the master cylinder inside the cylinder; not where it meets the booster? AFAIK thats just a big hold where it attaches.

 

[e90suprat]

No, if the fluid was sealed inside the cylinder, then there would be no need for the gasket.

 

[mrnickleye]

No, if the fluid was sealed inside the cylinder, then there would be no need for the gasket.

Wrong info here !!!

When it comes brakes, I strongly recommend that those of you out there that are not experts in brakes refrain from giving advice about brakes (on any forum, or to any one). Period !!

Bad advice could cost someone their car, or their life !!!

Now the truth...the master cylinder holds ALL the fluid. The photos show that there HAS BEEN a leak out of it from a seal. If it is not wet at that 'runny' spot, and you are not having to ad fluid, then the master may have been replaced by a previous owner (as most folks would just stick a reman one on and not clean up that trail on the booster).

 

[mkIIIman089]

I knew it, I just wanted someone else to say it

Anywho, I'll check that out tonight with the wet spot thing and let you know what I find.

 

[mrnickleye]

A person in another thread (on another forum??) said that he was losing fluid somewhere. He could not see where. A mechanic replaced the master cylinder. Then later, he was getting some white smoke out the tail pipe. Turned out to be brake fluid that had accumulated in the booster, then got sucked into the engine thru the vacuum hose.

 

[mkIIIman089]

If we're talking about the same one, it was e90suprat in this thread. He has a post on here somewhere called "it blew up right in front of me" or something like that.

 

[mrnickleye]

Yep...it blew up thread.
That's a lot of fluid, as the vacuum hose is up high on the booster. he must have been adding a lot in a short period of time. I'd think the diaphram in the booster would have deteriorated and gotten a hole if the leak were a slow, long time one.