Kr1s Posted October 26 Share Posted October 26 (edited) Hi Guys It looks like I have another problem with my 1980 coupe. A couple of weeks ago the brake fluid warning light came on and I had to top it up. Today, after not having used the car in between, it's back down again. I think I see signs of it running down the front of the servo and below (see upside down photo). My question is, what's the likely cause of the leak and the best way to address it? Master cylinder? Buy used or new, get mine refurbished? Also, how hard a job is it? Normally if it involves brake fluid I get the garage to do it because I always seem to end up spilling it on the paintwork, but it looks like that horse has already bolted in this case. Edit/update: Looking at Haynes it doesn't look to bad a job to replace the seals on the master cylinder and kits are available cheaply on eBay. As the car has low mileage and component wear should be minimal, I'm thinking this might be a good way ahead. Further question though - how to clean all the leaked fluid?! I try to avoid using the pressure washer on vehicles, but I'm struggling to see how else I'm going to clean up the mess 😫 Edited October 26 by Kr1s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bris jas Posted October 26 Share Posted October 26 More than likely its your master cylinder, i just had mine refurbed by past parts. Did a great job as usual and power coated it as well, not cheap though at £190 incl P+P. You can refurb the internals yourself, did one once nothing but trouble after wards, propably just me 😉 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kr1s Posted October 26 Author Share Posted October 26 (edited) I take it the new master cylinders I see on eBay for around £50 are just the casting and not the full assembly - can anyone confirm? £200 is a bit of a hit, but not a showstopper - how long did it take? Not that it matters much as I'm guessing the car is going to be off the road for a few months now due to the roads being permanently wet or salty. Looking at other posts it seems my low mileage theory might be flawed as the issue could be corrosion possibly exacerbated by lack of use Cheers! Chris Edited October 26 by Kr1s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sutty2006 Posted October 26 Share Posted October 26 When brakes are concerned, it’s best to have the job done properly. I had mine refurbished by past parts and haven’t looked back. Not worth the risk of doing myself and getting it wrong. They use stainless steel internal parts too so they won’t rust. for cleaning, buy a few cans of brake cleaner from a parts shop like euro car parts or Halfords, spray it off then wipe it down with an old clean rag. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kr1s Posted October 26 Author Share Posted October 26 I guess the servo is likely to have fluid in it, in which case is it likely it will need a refurb too? Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cam.in.head Posted October 26 Share Posted October 26 (edited) its easy enough to check . unbolt the cylinder ftom the servo and see if its leaking . its not a common leak area but can happen . you should be able to see inside the servo but if not you can poke a piece of cable into the vacuum pipe hole and use it like a dipstick . it must be leaking somewhere so if all is well here then its either a pipe or hose which should be obvious or inside the drum which eventually will drip ! replacing the master seals is straightforward enough providing you can get some and the cylinder is ok inside . otherwise sending for refurb if your not comfortable doing it ! Edited October 26 by cam.in.head 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bris jas Posted October 26 Share Posted October 26 8 hours ago, Kr1s said: I take it the new master cylinders I see on eBay for around £50 are just the casting and not the full assembly - can anyone confirm? £200 is a bit of a hit, but not a showstopper - how long did it take? Not that it matters much as I'm guessing the car is going to be off the road for a few months now due to the roads being permanently wet or salty. Looking at other posts it seems my low mileage theory might be flawed as the issue could be corrosion possibly exacerbated by lack of use Cheers! Chris Took about 4 weeks, used them before very good service and excellent quality. New old stock, i wouldn't go there as seals, etc probably gone hard over time and if ok won't last long. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sutty2006 Posted October 27 Share Posted October 27 10 hours ago, bris jas said: Took about 4 weeks, used them before very good service and excellent quality. New old stock, i wouldn't go there as seals, etc probably gone hard over time and if ok won't last long. This is another concern too, so well said 👍. Even if you can get NOS, the seals may have perished or gone hard on the shelf. You’ll pay a fortune for it and loose out. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessopia74 Posted October 27 Share Posted October 27 Rubber in a box is a relatively stable environment, it’s protected from sunlight and other things that break down/leach the plasticisers from the rubber. In all honesty I would go with a new old stock that’s in undamaged box/packing than modern rubbers 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cam.in.head Posted October 27 Share Posted October 27 i would second that. new rubber is crap nowadays . if you get a seal kit from back in the day chances are it will be better than MOST stuff nowadays but check carefully anyway . and as mentioned easy to do yourself rather than pay a fortune for someone else to do it !! j would anyway !! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rutts Posted October 28 Share Posted October 28 Depends if you have ATE or Delco system, cylinders are easy available for delco, ate are slightly harder to find. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Dobbo Posted October 30 Share Posted October 30 I have just managed to get a new old stock ATE from Italy via eBay I have messaged to see if they have another as it is a parts dealer Hoping to fit it this week if I can been 3 weeks since touched the Manta as works been crazy 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Opeloutbacks Posted October 31 Share Posted October 31 Nice one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rapierdave Posted October 31 Share Posted October 31 Check that it's for a RHD car as the LHD ones are longer & the brake pipes have to be modified. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gt/e paul Posted October 31 Share Posted October 31 i had the same issue on my 1980 cavalier the seals were by passing and leaking filling up the servo. bought a new ate one from edelsmeide and the brakes are like new again ... that was about 3 years ago now 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Dobbo Posted October 31 Share Posted October 31 9 hours ago, Rapierdave said: Check that it's for a RHD car as the LHD ones are longer & the brake pipes have to be modified. Doesn’t the LHD have pipes out of the opposite side? will measure up at the weekend when I’m working on it hoping to be ready for the NEC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kr1s Posted November 1 Author Share Posted November 1 On 30/10/2024 at 21:01, Simon Dobbo said: I have just managed to get a new old stock ATE from Italy via eBay I have messaged to see if they have another as it is a parts dealer Hoping to fit it this week if I can Good find - I will watch with interest to see how you get on before committing to anything myself 😆. I'm hoping to get my existing one removed tomorrow and establish which type it is and what state it's in. I'll probably remove the servo too, just to make checking/cleaning it out easier as it doesn't look too big a job. Of course that's not accounting for the difficulty of doing anything while upside down with one's head in the footwell. I spoke to Past Parts earlier in the week and they will be able to help but what I forgot to ask them was whether their service was just to provide a rejuvenated cylinder, or whether they reassemble the whole thing complete with new seals. I'll call them again once I've seen how the whole thing works and I hopefully have more idea what I'm talking about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cam.in.head Posted November 1 Share Posted November 1 if you remove the servo have a good check around the lower lip and mounting studs for any rust holes . dont be suprised if you find any ( or cause any !) if not get plenty of protection of your choice on those areas on refitting . sorry to frighten you but ive had a few that have rusted there . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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