CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER

[centro]

have had master cylinder replaced 3 times in as many months due to a small brake fluid leak. It is still leaking. What could be causing this?

[Aidan]

where is it leaking from, were these new or s/h units, what brand, where from ?

[centro]

Excuse my lack of technical knowledge here! The leak is from the top of the cylinder. The first 2 cylinders were not genuine parts, but the current (3rd) one is, so im told. Not sure where it is from though. I've been told there is a 'pin' which goes into the top of the cylinder which was slightly bent, but has been replaced since. Cheers

[Aidan]

apart from the leak what is the operation of the clutch like ? and was the pushrod replaced with a genuine one or something else and do you have free play at the top of the pedal, there should be 1/2mm free play at the pushrod which translates to about 1/2-1" at the pedal, you can push the pedal by hand whilst observing the pushrod action with a bit of contortion, easier on a lhd than a rhd
what brake fluid are you running and was it changed ie fully bled out of the slave or just topped up?

[elmo makaroy]

i have the same problem, clutch cylinder leaking, had a new one put in and its still leaking, it drips from a bolt at the bottom of the steering rack behind the brake pedal, but im not sure if this is just where the leak is leading to, i think im gunna have to take it back to the mechanic but i feel abit cheeky telling them its their fault as they have helped me out alot

[Ian Hulley]

it drips from a bolt at the bottom of the steering rack behind the brake pedal,

The 'Steering Rack' is underneath the van mounted to a crossmember. I assume you really mean steering column ? In which case you may just have a leak from the feed hose from the reservoir to the master cylinder.

Ian

[elmo makaroy]

yes thats wot i meant (sorry), i have just been out and tightened up a couple of bolts were it looked like it was leaking from (directly behind the brake pedal at the bottom of the steering column) and i think i have stopped the leak!

[elmo makaroy]

just been out for a long drive and it is still leaking but only slightly, and i can see that it is coming from a bolt behind the brake pedal wich has a washer around it that has perished, there are 2 bolts behind the brake pedal one above the other and it is the lower one wich is leaking ,

so i think i just need to replace the washer, im just trying to think wot i can use to seal the bolt in place that will work better than a plastic washer, i remember there was a thread were someone had a leak from the same bolt and they took a pic but i cant find the thread

[centro]

apart from the leak what is the operation of the clutch like ? and was the pushrod replaced with a genuine one or something else and do you have free play at the top of the pedal, there should be 1/2mm free play at the pushrod which translates to about 1/2-1" at the pedal, you can push the pedal by hand whilst observing the pushrod action with a bit of contortion, easier on a lhd than a rhd
what brake fluid are you running and was it changed ie fully bled out of the slave or just topped up?

Clutch was replaced with new one about 8 months ago (along with a gearbox recon). Clutch works well. Fluid was bled from system and is Dot 4 (cant remember which make - can look in van later).