Checklist for brake fluid leak
10-27-2014, 12:44 PM
#1
Checklist for brake fluid leak
I have a high mileage 1998 GLE (202k miles) with a suddenly occurring brake fluid leak. It drops from maximum to minimum (brake light comes on) in about three days. The pedal feels normal. The master cylinder had been replaced by a reputable shop about two years ago and does not appear to be leaking. It also had some other brake maintenance done about six years ago by a not so reputable shop.
I already planned some brake maintenance and upgrades so I have new brake hoses, caliper rebuild kits, StopTech street performance pads and high performance brake fluid so the timing of this problem is good. My question is what other sources of leaks can there be beside the master cylinder, calipers, hoses and steel lines? I wanted to be sure I knew where to look before I put the car on jack stands.
Last edited by rbuswell; 10-27-2014 at 01:59 PM.
10-27-2014, 08:51 PM
#2
Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 129
I have a high mileage 1998 GLE (202k miles) with a suddenly occurring brake fluid leak. It drops from maximum to minimum (brake light comes on) in about three days. The pedal feels normal. The master cylinder had been replaced by a reputable shop about two years ago and does not appear to be leaking. It also had some other brake maintenance done about six years ago by a not so reputable shop.
I already planned some brake maintenance and upgrades so I have new brake hoses, caliper rebuild kits, StopTech street performance pads and high performance brake fluid so the timing of this problem is good. My question is what other sources of leaks can there be beside the master cylinder, calipers, hoses and steel lines? I wanted to be sure I knew where to look before I put the car on jack stands.
I already planned some brake maintenance and upgrades so I have new brake hoses, caliper rebuild kits, StopTech street performance pads and high performance brake fluid so the timing of this problem is good. My question is what other sources of leaks can there be beside the master cylinder, calipers, hoses and steel lines? I wanted to be sure I knew where to look before I put the car on jack stands.
10-27-2014, 11:39 PM
#4
every break system ive ever had to repair leaks on, was allways one of the places you have listed...and seeing you are going through a considerable amount of break fluid every few days, i would think you would see drips somewhere on the ground..keep us posted on what you ultimately find is the culprit......good luck in your search
misspelled brake the two times you used it in your post
10-28-2014, 09:13 AM
#5
Two more good ideas ... thanks
every break system ive ever had to repair leaks on, was allways one of the places you have listed...and seeing you are going through a considerable amount of break fluid every few days, i would think you would see drips somewhere on the ground..keep us posted on what you ultimately find is the culprit......good luck in your search
I didn't know the booster can leak. I will check that out as well.
10-29-2014, 06:15 AM
#7
Jack it up and inspect your car's brake system....Look for signs of a leak everywhere you listed! Check that it's not a simple loose coupling or banjo bolt...If your loosing all that fluid in 3 days there's an obvious leak that's visible even too Stevie Wonder! I'm trying to understand some of us on this org with posting without even taking the time to look or inspect the problem before hand...Inspect your vehicles then if you're still lost, then post your problem!
11-03-2014, 09:11 AM
#8
Just trying to minimize the frustration
Jack it up and inspect your car's brake system....Look for signs of a leak everywhere you listed! Check that it's not a simple loose coupling or banjo bolt...If your loosing all that fluid in 3 days there's an obvious leak that's visible even too Stevie Wonder! I'm trying to understand some of us on this org with posting without even taking the time to look or inspect the problem before hand...Inspect your vehicles then if you're still lost, then post your problem!
I actually have another daily driver that's on the fritz too so I'm doing a lot of juggling just to get us around as a family. I don't have a level place to have two cars on jack stands at the same time. Working on old, high mileage cars can be fun and it saves a lot of money over buying new all the time but it can also be frustrating when the "perfect storm" hits causing multiple car outages.
I wanted to make one more comment that you guys may use as a clue to my problem. Since I have the other car on the fritz, the Maxima sat for about three days without being driven or even looked at and it didn't lose any brake fluid at all. That would seem to point to something pressure related, as in it is happening only when the pedal is pushed. That could explain why there is no fluid on the ground. Any input?
11-03-2014, 06:16 PM
#9
Sorry that my post exasperated you Cmax03. I just didn't want to miss all the ways the system could be leaking or start taking things apart when they obviously aren't the cause.
I actually have another daily driver that's on the fritz too so I'm doing a lot of juggling just to get us around as a family. I don't have a level place to have two cars on jack stands at the same time. Working on old, high mileage cars can be fun and it saves a lot of money over buying new all the time but it can also be frustrating when the "perfect storm" hits causing multiple car outages.
I wanted to make one more comment that you guys may use as a clue to my problem. Since I have the other car on the fritz, the Maxima sat for about three days without being driven or even looked at and it didn't lose any brake fluid at all. That would seem to point to something pressure related, as in it is happening only when the pedal is pushed. That could explain why there is no fluid on the ground. Any input?
I actually have another daily driver that's on the fritz too so I'm doing a lot of juggling just to get us around as a family. I don't have a level place to have two cars on jack stands at the same time. Working on old, high mileage cars can be fun and it saves a lot of money over buying new all the time but it can also be frustrating when the "perfect storm" hits causing multiple car outages.
I wanted to make one more comment that you guys may use as a clue to my problem. Since I have the other car on the fritz, the Maxima sat for about three days without being driven or even looked at and it didn't lose any brake fluid at all. That would seem to point to something pressure related, as in it is happening only when the pedal is pushed. That could explain why there is no fluid on the ground. Any input?
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