Im still trying to get this beast straightened up. CAR 72 Lark Custom (350-4) Stock 4wheel drums. PROBLEMS: 1st the brakes lose fluid. Ive traced a souce to a minor rear wheel cylinder leak though this sucker isnt leaking as much as it used to appear to. 2nd - the front wheel has a bit of fluid on the tire and possibly trace ammounts of brake fluid leakign from there? 3rd main leak seems to come out of the master cylinder the top of the gasket is wet with fluid and i can see it leak down the back of the MC. MY GUESTIMATES: I figure the 1st problem was minor but due to the other guys taking up the slack there is less pressure in the lines now at the rear wheels so thats why the leak seems to have gone away I think the front wheel cylinder is just by happen chance. This is where I need help. Is there normally pressure inside the MC? Though I do not know much about brakes I figured it there shouldnt be any pressure here. If this is the case is there a problem then with the MC or with the Booster? Technique I did make sure the surfaces havent been used and checked the car by running it and pumping the brakes... then I checked for leaks and found some on the right front tire, and at the master cylinder. Thanks in advance... I am limited by time on this endevour.
I'll assume you haven't been through any of the wheel cylinders or the master cylinders. If not, they need to be rebuilt or replaced. It's probably a good time to replace all rubber brake hoses too, for safety's sake.
I am going to replace the hoses and cylinders, but my concern was also for the MC and booster. I do not know if they are a problem or simply that the rubber gasket/cap on the MC is the problem. Should there be pressure inside the MC? There must be some sort of pressure inside because once the brakes are applied the fluid level rises and flows out of the cap. I am quite suprised by this.
Are you overfilling the master cylinder? Leave a little room at the top, maybe a quarter to three eights of an inch or so. If that doesn't do it, try a new cap. Are you sure it's leaking out the cap and not somewhere else on the cylinder, like from behind? If it still gives you trouble after this, I'd just replace it or rebuild it using a shop manual.
I used to think it was leaking at the back of the MC where it attached to the booster, however its is clear as day leaking from the cap. The cap and gasket look good. Looks like Im in for a new MC. Thanks, kev
