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[unclelicklug]

Would appreciate anyone's experience, I noticed the brake fluid light flickering and sure enough the level is low.

I can also sit and depress the brake pedal and eventually it will sink to the floor, although there is resistance and the car does pull up OK in normal driving.

There are no immediate signs of leaking - I will look properly shortly, is there a route for the master cylinder to leak into the servo?

If so is this a known fault?

Just had the wishbones swapped but the garage swear they went nowhere near the brakes.

Any thoughts much appreciated.

Cheers
Rick

[Kneepad]

It is possible for the fluid to leak into the servo, but i would look at more obvious places first.
Caliper piston seals, flexible hoses, unions. also checking the bleed nipples may reveal if the garage are telling porkies.

[unclelicklug]

It is possible for the fluid to leak into the servo, but i would look at more obvious places first.
Caliper piston seals, flexible hoses, unions. also checking the bleed nipples may reveal if the garage are telling porkies.

Surely not!!

Thanks Kneepad, still looking into this - anyone else got any ideas?

[Omegatoy]

master cyl seals gone, it can also leak into the car below the pedals,
also possible for the fluid to get past the als on the down stroke then be forced back behind the piston on the upstroke!!

[unclelicklug]

master cyl seals gone, it can also leak into the car below the pedals,
also possible for the fluid to get past the als on the down stroke then be forced back behind the piston on the upstroke!!

Thanks - Best to change the whole master cylinder or is there a repair kit?

[whippit]

Best way I have found to check for leaks is to get an eezi bleed on it, pressure it up and check all pipes, seals and joints while its pressurised.
I have had issues on the carltons (omega A, almost the same brake pipe set up) with the Joint above the diff, hard to access and difficult to spot leaks there

[Omegatoy]

master cyl seals gone, it can also leak into the car below the pedals,
also possible for the fluid to get past the als on the down stroke then be forced back behind the piston on the upstroke!!

Thanks - Best to change the whole master cylinder or is there a repair kit?

dont know if there is a repair kit for these, however the brakes are the one thing between you and the wall at 100mph? think i would go for new or recon if money is tight,poss lowmileage scrappy one? have you checked for leaks anywhere else though? before condemning the m.cyl although it sounds like its gone from your description

[unclelicklug]

master cyl seals gone, it can also leak into the car below the pedals,
also possible for the fluid to get past the als on the down stroke then be forced back behind the piston on the upstroke!!

Thanks - Best to change the whole master cylinder or is there a repair kit?

dont know if there is a repair kit for these, however the brakes are the one thing between you and the wall at 100mph? think i would go for new or recon if money is tight,poss lowmileage scrappy one? have you checked for leaks anywhere else though? before condemning the m.cyl although it sounds like its gone from your description

I should be so lucky
But your point is well taken.

Many thanks to everyone for your help, I will check again for external leaks, and go from there - any other thoughts still welcome..

Cheers
Rick

[Marks DTM Calib]

A few more questions needed before diving down the 'its this or that' route.

1) Has any work been carried out recently on the brakes?

2) Has this started suddenly or gradualy

3) Any other symptoms, engine running rough etc

4) Is it loosing fluid

Master cylinder, possibly, although never seen one fail with age, only through idiots inverting seals due to not knowing how to fit brake pads properly.

[unclelicklug]

A few more questions needed before diving down the 'its this or that' route.

1) Has any work been carried out recently on the brakes? No, wishbones just replaced but so far can't see leaks in this area

2) Has this started suddenly or gradually? Hard to say, the first I noticed was the brake light flickering for low fluid, the pedal can be sunk to the floor but it takes a while, the brakes are still effective in normal use

3) Any other symptoms, engine running rough etc? No more than usual for a 2.2DTi 

4) Is it loosing fluid? Can't be absolutely sure, I topped it up when the light showed but too soon to say if it's dropping, so far noe external leaks found but I have not had a chance to check this carefully, just a quick once over so far

Master cylinder, possibly, although never seen one fail with age, only through idiots inverting seals due to not knowing how to fit brake pads properly.

Thanks Mark, answers as best I can above...