The 'E' Type Forum

Hi gents,
I’ve just noticed hydraulic fluid under my car thinking clutch slave but upon inspection my inner brake fluid bottle is nearly empty. It looks as though the fluid is dripping from the vacuum tank. Has the fluid syphoned into it? If so what is the cause? I’ve checked the hoses are on the check valve in the correct locations.

Cheers,
Pete

Check the brake master cylinder for leaks. I had a similar leak which drips onto the vac tank, runs down the seam & drips off the bottom of the vac tank. Check if the paint down the side of the tank has been disolved by fluid.

The 3.8 Kelsey Hayes brake system cannot pull brake fluid directly into the vacuum reservoir. As Allrand says check the master cylinders for weeping. Do also check the reservoir bottles. The repro ones are extremely prone to spitting and the brake fluid seeps down and often drops onto the reservoir and so it may look like that's where it comes from....

...my repro bottles didn't spit....but they did split....

Thanks gents and yes I removed the air cleaner yesterday and noticed fluid had dripped, presumably from one of the the master cylinders, onto the vacuum tank. No damage to my new paint! Fluid bottles are dry as are the flexible hoses. I’ve encountered the dreaded splitting bottles previously. I’ve washed/wiped everything clean and driven the car and no leaks evident yet. The car hadn’t been driven for a few months prior. I’ll pop the dust boots off the M/C’s and see if there’s any fluid in either. Maybe it’s fixed itself

Pete

Well it didn’t miraculously fix itself of course! The top master cylinder is weeping. I’ll remove it and strip it down. Hopefully I can repair it with a rubber kit rather than replace it but that will, of course, depend on the condition of the bore. I’d like to keep the cylinders matching if possible.

Pete

Sadly leaks rarely repair themselves...more is the pity!