Matt O.

I think I have a brake fluid leak. The other night under acceleration I was getting the master caution light and brake fluid light. Checked the fluid, it was on the low side so I got home and topped it off (to mid way point).

Well, the light came on again, and this time I have a (what I think is) brake fluid deposit, about a tablespoon of it, on the drivers side machphereson strut area - you know, where it's depressed and created a little "pool" of brake fluid. I sopped that up, and remembered that when I first got the car there was a little deposit there but I didn't know what it was. I have had since April and haven't had a problem or that deposit since then. I clean the engine all the time so I know I would have noticed, plus the light has never come on.

Anyway, I can't figure out where the leak is coming from. There is a spot on my garage almost directly below the brake fluid resevoir, but I can't tell.

Is there a common spot it leaks? What do you suppose my next step should be to fix? Has anyone ever had this same or similar problem?

Thanks in advance,
Matt

Dave

Check the hose that connects the clutch master cyl. to the brake reservoir.

Tabor

Dave is right. Also, you may have a leaky clutch slave or master. I only had my hydrolic fluid leak once, and that was when my slave was failing.

rangelica

I had a brake fluid leak that drove me crazy. I finally had my mechanic look at it, he had one of those telescoping mirrors, he looked around for a minute or so, tightened one connection and said no charge!! On my '86 951 there is a brake line that comes from the firewall and connects to a fitting that is on the side and goes underneath the reservoir, it's a large nut 3/4 or 7/8, and it was leaking from underneath, I would have never found it. (I need to buy one of those handy telescoping mirrors).

Good luck, hope this helps,

Rick

'86 951

Adam Richman

Matt, this might be sophomoric to ask but did you check the bleed screw? It would most likely run down the caliper and onto the ground if it was loose but I have forgotten to tighten mine before, doh! I am saying this aware that the Tbs of fluid would be above said area but thought that it might be unrelated.

Also, if you want to make a positive id on the fluid that you are finding, perhaps switching to ATE Super Blue would leave you little doubt to the fluid type.

Best of luck.

Matt O.

I have printed this page and will check all those things tomorrow.

Adam:

Is the bleed screw that black thing, comes perpendicular to the line (which looks like it comes from the brake resevoir), hard piping (not soft rubber) and is nearly directly over the driver's side Macphereson strut?

If that's it, I did investigate that a bit. I tried to turn it but it did not turn. I am sure it is a screw though, it has ribbed edges so you can turn it with your hand and I believe it had a flat-head screw top.

Anyway, thanks again for all your replies and help. Hopefully I can fix this quickly and painle$$ly.

-Matt

Perry 951

My O ring for the front right brake leaks. I have seen this on others. It is where the line goes into the master cylender. Check all the connections there and you might see some leakage. Mine is very slow, but uses up some fluid.

IceShark

No, that black *** you are describing is likely a valve on your air con line, don't go taking that off.

The brake bleeders are down on the calipers - you need to take the wheels off to really get to them.

Adam Richman

Shark is correct on that not being the bleed screw I am talking about, you want put the front end on jackstands (you don't need to take off the wheels) and turn the wheel full right and full left. If you look at your caliper (I assume ours are identical), at about 11 o'clock there will be a 7 or 8 mm (I think 8 for SpeedBleeders and 7 for OE) bleed screw that might very well have a rubber cover on it. You don't need to tighten them necessarity just look for evidence of streams of fluid coming out of that location on the calipers and in the rubber covers. This is just a thought and you shouldn't have to jack the car to see the rears - they are at ~10 o'clock and in my garage I can bleed them on the ground (yipeee!).

rplencne

We had the clutch master cylinder start leaking heavily. It all came into the driver's foot well. Where ever it's coming from, inspect for paint damage. If you don't clean it up, it will soften and eat the paint and eventually rust !

-Bob P.

mike10562004

mine dose too =( at least i will have new fluid in it lol but i do need to try to track it down

krystar

oh man sux. if u need a new master cyl, i got a new in box one that i never used.

robert944h

This thread is 8 years old.....lol

mike10562004

o wow lol i didnt even notice that i was thinking i was under new posts lol my bad

krystar

lolol i didn't even see the post date. i guess he doesn't need the MC :P