Date:         Wed, 23 Feb 2011 21:20:34 -0800
Reply-To:     Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject:      Re: Loose brake master cylinder resevoir
Comments: To: Gregg Carlen <gregg.carlen@GMAIL.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=original

Hi,
yes, it just 'floats' almost in the two rubber grommet things.
So normal that you can rock it side to side ..like up to half an inch total
travel.

if you haven't seen inside the rear brakes , I'd do that.
the two most likely places to leak are rear wheel cylinders and master
cylinder.

it is very easy for an old master cylinder to leak internally ..
not seal from chamber to chamber ....
that can equal low pedal with no external leaking.

or as you were thinking ..air getting in somehow ..
though I wouldn't think at the res grommet things. ..
good thinking though for you to consider that.

Scott
www.turbovans.com


----- Original Message -----
From: "Gregg Carlen" <gregg.carlen@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 8:00 PM
Subject: Loose brake master cylinder resevoir


> So there's no suprise that my new van has more suprises in store for me.
>
> Driving the other day and the brake pedal goes almost to the floor.
> Thought
> I might have lost a brake line or a brake piston or some other oriface
> that
> fluid would leak out. When I got home (yes, it still stops, just the pedal
> goes almost comletely to the floor). The braking also became very
> squishy/soft.  I first checkd the master brake fluid resvoir. It was
> normal
> (just below the max line). Just to be sure, I did the usual crawl around
> underneath looking for leaks and under the master cylinder for anything
> that
> might be leaking. Nothing. Dry everywhere.
>
> Then I noticed the master cylinder resevoir itself was loose. Kind of
> wobbling on top of the master cyclinder. This is a new master cylinder (PO
> said he had it replaced and the old one is in a box in the back with other
> spare parts).
>
> I'm suspecting that I wasn't leaking any fluid, but that I've sucked air
> into the brake lines. I think when the PO had the master cylinder replaced
> that the resevoir plugs (Bently 47.2) were reused and not replaced with
> new.
> If I gently/carefully rock the resevoir, I can see that one of the plugs
> has
> moisture around its edges.
>
> So, besides asking your collective opinion as to what might have failed in
> the brakes, is there a way that the master brake resevoir is SUPPOSED to
> be
> secured? Or, is it just held in place by the 2 resevoir plugs?
>
> Cheers,
> Gregg
> 90 Westy