Brake fluid problem - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

-aishiteru- · 12-18-2002, 12:01 PM

I flushed my brakes like a month ago. A week after the flush, my brake light came on. I checked and it was low on brake fluid. I added more and no problem.

Earlier this week, the light came on again, so I checked the resovoir and it was low. I added more fluid to the max line. Two days later it is back down to almost empty.

I checked for leaks and there were none. I don't know what the hell is wrong? What else should I check for?

Please help. Thanks

adey · 12-18-2002, 01:40 PM

It has to be a leak... brake fluid doesn't just disappear like that! Check the hard lines under the hood starting from the MC, and follow them under your car to the calipers.
Worst case scenario, you'd have to bring it to a shop and have them help you out...

kandyflip445 · 12-18-2002, 01:58 PM

Yeah it has to be a leak. If you are near me I could help you out...but I doubt that you are. Also...if the brake fluid is leaking onto paint....then there won't be anymore paint there. Just run your fingers down the lines and find the leak. When you changed your fluid you used DOT3 right? Cause if you used DOT5 then you have to get all new rubber seals. When you changed your fluid you bleed your brakes right? If you did make sure that all the bleeder screws are tight.(Not too tight though)

tnord · 12-18-2002, 05:16 PM

well, if you flushed em, and now it's a problem, i would guess that you didn't get the bleeder valve on the tight enough.

check your calipers around the bleeder valve to see if any fluid is leaking out.

kandyflip445 · 12-19-2002, 01:41 AM

AH HA! I just posted on Z32 Brake Problem about checking for leaks and stuff related to your problem. Check out that thread it should help. If not just catch me on aim and I'll try to help out some more.

-aishiteru- · 12-20-2002, 10:10 PM

Thanks... I haven't had the chance to check the brake lines for leaks. I'll get to it tomorrow.

-aishiteru- · 12-21-2002, 02:42 PM

Checked it out today. Turns out to be a broken seal on the rear brake caliper. Going to get that replaced. I called a few places and they say it's like 90 bucks for one. Is that exp? How much does it normally cost?

kandyflip445 · 12-21-2002, 08:18 PM

Well they'll probably be rebuilding the whole caliper so it sounds about right. The going rate for an hour here is about $50+parts. So it sounds about right. If you are near me I could do it but I doubt you are...

adey · 12-21-2002, 09:33 PM

WOw, for that price you could get two rebuilt rear Z32 brakes if you traded your stock ones in...

I can't say if that's particularly expensive, but it sounds like it it to me. x_X

12-18-2002, 12:01 PM	#1
-aishiteru- Leaky Injector Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 120 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Brake fluid problem I flushed my brakes like a month ago. A week after the flush, my brake light came on. I checked and it was low on brake fluid. I added more and no problem. Earlier this week, the light came on again, so I checked the resovoir and it was low. I added more fluid to the max line. Two days later it is back down to almost empty. I checked for leaks and there were none. I don't know what the hell is wrong? What else should I check for? Please help. Thanks

12-18-2002, 01:40 PM	#2
adey Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 3,072 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	sounds to me like a leak It has to be a leak... brake fluid doesn't just disappear like that! Check the hard lines under the hood starting from the MC, and follow them under your car to the calipers. Worst case scenario, you'd have to bring it to a shop and have them help you out... __________________ Instagram: @SX180HKG

12-21-2002, 09:33 PM	#9
adey Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 3,072 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	WOw, for that price you could get two rebuilt rear Z32 brakes if you traded your stock ones in... I can't say if that's particularly expensive, but it sounds like it it to me. x_X __________________ Instagram: @SX180HKG

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12-18-2002, 01:58 PM	#3
kandyflip445 Post Whore! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Arden, NC Age: 40 Posts: 4,460 Trader Rating: (1) Rides Gallery: kandyflip445 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Yeah it has to be a leak. If you are near me I could help you out...but I doubt that you are. Also...if the brake fluid is leaking onto paint....then there won't be anymore paint there. Just run your fingers down the lines and find the leak. When you changed your fluid you used DOT3 right? Cause if you used DOT5 then you have to get all new rubber seals. When you changed your fluid you bleed your brakes right? If you did make sure that all the bleeder screws are tight.(Not too tight though)

12-18-2002, 05:16 PM	#4
tnord Nissanaholic! Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 1,975 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	well, if you flushed em, and now it's a problem, i would guess that you didn't get the bleeder valve on the tight enough. check your calipers around the bleeder valve to see if any fluid is leaking out.

12-19-2002, 01:41 AM	#5
kandyflip445 Post Whore! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Arden, NC Age: 40 Posts: 4,460 Trader Rating: (1) Rides Gallery: kandyflip445 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	AH HA! I just posted on Z32 Brake Problem about checking for leaks and stuff related to your problem. Check out that thread it should help. If not just catch me on aim and I'll try to help out some more.

12-20-2002, 10:10 PM	#6
-aishiteru- Leaky Injector Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 120 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Thanks... I haven't had the chance to check the brake lines for leaks. I'll get to it tomorrow.

12-21-2002, 02:42 PM	#7
-aishiteru- Leaky Injector Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 120 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Checked it out today. Turns out to be a broken seal on the rear brake caliper. Going to get that replaced. I called a few places and they say it's like 90 bucks for one. Is that exp? How much does it normally cost?

12-21-2002, 08:18 PM	#8
kandyflip445 Post Whore! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Arden, NC Age: 40 Posts: 4,460 Trader Rating: (1) Rides Gallery: kandyflip445 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Well they'll probably be rebuilding the whole caliper so it sounds about right. The going rate for an hour here is about $50+parts. So it sounds about right. If you are near me I could do it but I doubt you are...