My brake master cynider was leaking pretty badly... I heard horror stories about trying to replace the grommets... and I WAS going to simpy cover the whole damn base with silicone or something.... but I didn't want that crap.

All I did was take two large hose clamps, and wrap them both around the cylynder-resevoir assembly, (one in front and one on the back) clamping the resevoir down harder to the cylinder plunger.

Worked like a charm....
I will replace the grommets someday, but this is at least keeping an endless drip of brake fluid from marking driveways, and having to buy 5 bucks of brake fluid twice a month...

 

Wow... I thought with so many people with leaking MC's there may have been more interest in this temp fix...
11 views...

 

Seems to me that if I had that problem, I'd replace the bloody MC rather than kludge together a temporary fix. This isn't your engine or radio you're messing with, it's your brakes.. Those things you use to STOP the car and prevent an accident.

Seems to me that any reasonable expense should be no object when repairing that part of my car.

IMHO, YMMV.

PaulC

 

Thats a good Idea BamBam7. My MC leaks too, but not as bad as your seems to. There was a post a month or so ago with a question about how to fix a leaking MC and it turns out that many ppl have the same problem. People that have replaced the gromets said that even after, if accidentally the MC gets bumped or used as an elbow rest (like I have done on occcasion) it may start to leak again. I think I will "rebuild" my MC, but will use your idea just as an extra precaution from it jarring around.

 

nice to know for a temp fix, thanks.

 

I had that problem, but like Silkworm said, "This isn't your engine or radio you're messing with, it's your brakes. Those things you use to STOP the car and prevent an accident."
I replaced the whole master cylinder, the more expensive route, but now I will not have to worry about it for another 100,000 miles.

Kris

 

I ordered the grommets for $2.60 per set.

I have several sets.

It took me 10 minutes to replace the grommets.

Place rags ALL OVER THE PLACE under the MC reservoir.
Drain the Reservoir.
Pull the MC reservoir.
Remove the seals.
press new seals onto the reservoir.
press whole assy into the MC.

Make sure you lube with DOT3 brake fluid all the time.

Clean the entire area.

Voila, dry MC.

 

I replaced my MC and I still have fluid mysteriously disappearing. No drips anywhere that I can find. I just have to refill it about every 2-3 weeks unlike every 2-3 days before I replaced it.

ANY ideas of where it could be going?

 

It sounds like you have a pressure leak somewhere. Like a pinhole in a line, or a leaking seal on a caliper. Does your brake pedal get a little softer if you hold it down for a min or two?

 

Thnx bambam..I had this problem for 2 months and wondering when I was going to be able to save enough money to replace it. This is great and is not dangerous what so ever. It happend when I changed wiring harnesses that went throu that side by the MC in wich I remember putting lots of pressure on it.

 

I think I will keep the bands around it even once I replace the grommets.... It's solid as a rock now.... I never liked the way it semed to wobble around so easily...

How is this dangerous?? That got me...
It's just pulling the resevoir down slightly to the cylinder!

Anyways.. it's been 3 days, and not a drop of liquid lost now... it's nice and dry finally!

 

I haven't noticed any loss of pressure or pedal softness when it is full. It was a bitch to bleed them when I replaced the mc though. I haven't found any residue anywhere under the car. It just gets annoying to fill it up every so often.

 

are these grommets your calling them the same things as bushings? the little pieces that the resivoir sits in the cylinder? how do you take the plastic resivoir off of the cylinder? do you just pull it up and off?

 

Yes, I had to put the mc in a vise and try and ease the reservoir out w/o pulling the nipples off the bottom. It is a pain and you have to have some patience with it.

 

So, when you replace the grommets under the Brake Master Cylinder and plug It back do you have worry about getting air In the system?

 

LOL...my NEW master cylinder grommets leak only when not in use...

 

My FB does the same thing. Brand new MC leaking. I think I'll clamp my reservoir down too.

 

When I brake the car seems to stop ok. But when stopped and waiting at a light, I gradually lose brake pressure until the pedal is to the ground. When the pedal is to the ground it does have quite a bit of braking power though. This is probably the master cylinder isn't it? I'm taking her in Thrusday. But I see now leaks on the driveway.

 

good question..anyone?

 

Not unless you press the brake while the resevoir is off, drawing air into the bore....
When you put it back on, and fill it back up, it should be OK.... BUT it's always a good idea to bleed the brakes anyways... it's easy.

About the post a few up- the "pedal to the floor"... that could be a leak ANYWHERE... in between from the brake line fitting on the MC to each caliper. I'd jack the car up, and have someone step on the brake while you examine all the unions at the calipers, and the MC....