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Car Forum / BMW Cars / May 2006E30 Brake fluid on carpet
I've got a 1990 BMW 325i convertible that I bought about a month ago.. Brake fluid light came on a couple of weeks ago so I put some brake fluid in. Today the light came on again. So I put some more in. Drove about five miles and had brake fluid on the carpet on the driver's side. How did this happen? Can someone tell me what may be wrong? Thanks "nichdl1" <nichdl1@aol.com> wrote > I've got a 1990 BMW 325i convertible that I bought about a month ago.. > Brake fluid light came on a couple of weeks ago so I put some brake > fluid in. Today the light came on again. So I put some more in. > Drove about five miles and had brake fluid on the carpet on the > driver's side. How did this happen? Can someone tell me what may be > wrong? Your master cylinder has failed, and is leaking fluid. You need to get it replaced ASAP. It's an easy DIY job, but you don't seem like a DIY guy, so head to a brake shop. FloydR How hard a job is it? and why does it leak on the carpet? "nichdl1" <nichdl1@aol.com> wrote > How hard a job is it? and why does it leak on the carpet? The hardest part is bleeding the system afterwards - usually a two-person job (not hard, just tedious). It leaks onto the carpet because the shaft that drives the piston goes through the firewall. The piston's seal is leaking, and it goes back along the shaft through the firewall. It won't leak if it's not driven. FloydR > The hardest part is bleeding the system afterwards - usually > a two-person job (not hard, just tedious). If you do much DIY on brakes - including routine fluid changes - it's well worth getting a pressure bleeding set. Not expensive - they use air pressure from your spare wheel. Makes it an easy one man job, and far quicker than manual bleeding. You have to take care when assembling them to make sure you have no leaks - otherwise brake fluid can go everywhere. But not a problem with care. ;-)  Signature*If you don't like the news, go out and make some. Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. Will it continue to leak if I don't drive it? My mechanic is booked until next week. You didn't mention 5 speed or auto but if it's a 5 speed then the master cylinder for the clutch could also be at fault. Either way it needs to be fixed as soon as you can... >I've got a 1990 BMW 325i convertible that I bought about a month ago.. >Brake fluid light came on a couple of weeks ago so I put some brake [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > >Thanks It is a 5 speed and I now suspect the clutch slave cylinder may be at fault. My mechanic had told me it was leaking when I was looking at the car to buy. There is no sign of a leak inside the engine compartment around the master brake cylinder. It is not wet, nothing dripping or any sign of a leak around it. Just the fluid on the floor of the car. Do I need to replace both the clutch slave cylinder and the master brake cylinder? or can I get by with just the clutch slave cylinder (much less expensive)? "nichdl1" <nichdl1@aol.com> wrote > It is a 5 speed and I now suspect the clutch slave cylinder may be at > fault. My mechanic had told me it was leaking when I was looking at [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > the master brake cylinder? or can I get by with just the clutch slave > cylinder (much less expensive)? If you have oil INSIDE the car, it's the Master clutch cylinder that's leaking, not the Slave: a leaking slave - located on the front of the bell housing - would only leak onto the road/garage floor. FloydR > > It is a 5 speed and I now suspect the clutch slave cylinder may be at > > fault. ... Do I need to replace both the clutch slave cylinder and [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > leaking, not the Slave: a leaking slave - located on the front of the > bell housing - would only leak onto the road/garage floor. Jeez, I'm glad *somebody* is watching the store! OF COURSE it's the clutch master! The brake master isn't inside! Nor is the clutch slave cylinder, unfortunately for the OP. If the clutch master is leaking, it needs to be replaced. It's not real expensive for the part, but it takes a contortionist to do it. You should be prepared to pay appropriately. -- C.R. Krieger (Been there; done that) > > It is a 5 speed and I now suspect the clutch slave cylinder may be at > > fault. ... Do I need to replace both the clutch slave cylinder and [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > leaking, not the Slave: a leaking slave - located on the front of the > bell housing - would only leak onto the road/garage floor. Jeez, I'm glad *somebody* is watching the store! OF COURSE it's the clutch master! The brake master isn't inside! Nor is the clutch slave cylinder, unfortunately for the OP. If the clutch master is leaking, it needs to be replaced. It's not real expensive for the part, but it takes a contortionist to do it. You should be prepared to pay appropriately. -- C.R. Krieger (Been there; done that) > Do I need to replace both the clutch slave cylinder and > the master brake cylinder? or can I get by with just the clutch slave > cylinder (much less expensive)? Both the brake and clutch cylinders as operated by the pedals are known as master cylinders. Slave cylinders are the ones they operate - ie they do what the master says. ;-) Signature*Organized Crime Is Alive And Well; It's Called Auto Insurance. * Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. |
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