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Midget 1500 Brake Question

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77_MG_Midget

77_MG_Midget

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After rebuilding the brake system, I bled the brakes and found a leak in the front. Ok, not bad, just haven't had time to fix yet. But, when I checked the master cylinder this weekend, it was near empty, both front and rear reservoir.

I don't understand why the back brake reservoir would be empty. They are seperate systems, split by the brake switch assembly, right? I have no leaks in the rear, so it must have leaked down from the front brakes.

Does this mean my brake switch assembly is not proportioning the system properly and is bad?
 
That is a strange one. Unless you've got a significant leak in the PDWA that made it leak down, it's got me stumped. The only other thing I can think of is if there is a leak between the pistons in the master cylinder. Normally the PDWA keeps the two circuits separate, it doesn't do any proportioning of the front and rear.
 
I don't think you have a problem other then the leak in the front. The resevoir has a separator than goes up about half way to the top. As you drive, the fluid can splash from front to back.
 
Do you have any puddles on your driver's side floor board?
 
[ QUOTE ]
Do you have any puddles on your driver's side floor board?

[/ QUOTE ]

No, there's no leaks that I can find other then the front right caliper, which I know about. I'm just really suprised that the master cylinder is almost completely empty again???
 
Yes, just leaking while sitting. As I said, I know where the leak is, it's in the front right caliper. But I can't figure out why the rear reservoir in the master cylinder would have lost all of it's fluid also. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif I thought the brake switch assembly prevented this from happening by splitting the front and back systems. But, I hate to replace the brake switch assembly if I don't need to, they're very expensive.
 
I'd look for another leak location.
 
Where is it leaking on the caliper. Is it possible to plug the line going to the caliper and observe the results? It could be that you have a leak that is pooling in a secret hiding place.
 
Well, as we all know with our LBC's, anything is possible. The car is still up on stands and I've been under her quite a bit lately as we just got the motor and tranny back in. I haven't seen any other pooling of fluid, but that doesn't mean there isn't some somewhere I guess. I'll give plugging the front line a try this weekend and seeing what happens.
 
I have a small brake fluid leak showing up on the driver side floor mat but can't find the source. Any wise words to offer?

Thanks
Al /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/canpatriot.GIF
 
Brake fluid on the driver's side floor mat sounds like a fault master cylinder... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
Time for a rebuild and mabe even a resleave.
 
rockauto.com has a cheap ($50 US) rebuilt master cylinder. Rebuilding the master for your car (a 76 right?) is really hard. I even had to manufacture some tools when I did mine... and it still leaks from time to time.
 
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