Car creating brake fluid

[stevesey]

Well we had Lynall's car seemingly generating oil a while back. Here's a similar puzzler.

SWMBOs '95 Astra is generating brake fluid. That is the reservior keeps overflowing. Pads were last replaced 2 years ago and are coming up for replacement soon, so if anything fluid level should be low. Brake pedal is solid, so no sign of any air getting into the system. Haven't hammered the brakes enough to boil any water that might have got in, but difficult to figure out how any water would be getting in without anything getting out (unless it one of the seals is allowing this in a one way fashion - which I suppose is possible).

The only thing that crosses my mind is that something is going on with the adjusters/handbrake mechanism on the rear drums so that the rear cylinders are getting more compressed - but I don't think that would displace enough fluid to fill the reservior, overflow and make up for the front pad wear.

Any ideas anyone?

P.S. No ABS.

 

[phil c]

Well we had Lynall's car seemingly generating oil a while back. Here's a similar puzzler.

SWMBOs '95 Astra is generating brake fluid. That is the reservior keeps overflowing. Pads were last replaced 2 years ago and are coming up for replacement soon, so if anything fluid level should be low. Brake pedal is solid, so no sign of any air getting into the system. Haven't hammered the brakes enough to boil any water that might have got in, but difficult to figure out how any water would be getting in without anything getting out (unless it one of the seals is allowing this in a one way fashion - which I suppose is possible).

The only thing that crosses my mind is that something is going on with the adjusters/handbrake mechanism on the rear drums so that the rear cylinders are getting more compressed - but I don't think that would displace enough fluid to fill the reservior, overflow and make up for the front pad wear.

Any ideas anyone?

P.S. No ABS.

i used to work at vauxhall , they had a recall/service measure on a hole in the bonnet under the off side washer jet , you put a shaped rubber bung in the hole as any water leaking off the washer jet used to drip straight on the master cylinder reservoir and fill it up with water , hope this helps

 

[lynall]

I can remember that and im pretty certain its water related as said, just suck out whats in the reservior stick in new and stick a plastic bag over the top and if its okay after a couple of weeks do a complete fluid flush to get any water out of the system, then do the bung mod, or buy a posher plastic bag!




Lynall

 

[corned]

I had the exact same symptoms many years ago on my first Mini. I had to keep tapping off brake fluid from the reservoir as it kept overflowing.

The problem here though was the master cylinder seals, and it soon came to a head when it had effectively pumped out all the effective fluid and the pedal literally went to the floor.

After a higher-than-average laundry bill, and a new master cylinder, order was restored.


The moral of the story: don't hang about finding the root of the problem. Not with brakes.

 

[stevesey]

I think phil has it - no bungs below the washer jets. So hole now sealed with gaffer tape, and plastic bag over reserviour (as lynall says I may make make a posher cover to ensure water doesn't get in again).

Fluid syphoned out was a cloudy yellow colour, unlike any old brake fluid I have seen before (can't remember seeing cloudy fluid before, dirty yes) - I assume that is the water. Will give the system a good bleed/flush tomorrow.

Thanks chaps - as people have said before the collective knowledge of this place is amazing.

 

[phil c]

Pleased I could help