G50 Master Cylinder Blues

[Haitian_King]

I had an experience this weekend that made me thank my lucky stars that I had a rainy day account for my Q.

I drove the car on Thursday and it was fine. The car sat till Saturday afternoon, and that's it hit the fan.

I noticed the brake pedal was traveling too far for comfort. My immediate thought that it was a botched attempt on my life. While I ran my errands, I went through a list of various malcontents who could be devious enough to attempt an assassination, and especially one involving my car. That really got my goat.

Anywho, I bring the car to Jersey, and have my dad give it a look. He assumed the master cylinder had gone. I took the car to a shop I frequent on Monday morning and dropped the car off. About an hour later, I get a call from the tech telling me it was indeed the master cylinder.

Long story short, parts and labor came to $371.90. I was happy that my car was fixed and I wouldn't be stationary any longer.

On a lighter note, my Q hit 101,000 today about a mile from my apartment. Hooray!

[maxnix]

Usually when MS fails that young, it is because fluid is not changed often enough (at least every 2 years) and turns acidic form moisture accumulation. Better keep a real close eye on brake lines (even Q45tech got bitten by a failure) and state saving for a new ABS accumulator and pump ($$$).

DOT3 or 4?

[Q451990]

Usually when MS fails that young, it is because fluid is not changed often enough

My first Q lost it's MS at 80K and 6 years in service. The second one was seeping at 11 years and 47K. So 17 years and 101K isn't bad. That said, your advice about flushing fluid regularly is very good... especially trying to hold on to the ABS actuator as long as possible. Even a rebuild is expensive vs. fluid cost!

Heath

[Haitian_King]

My first Q lost it's MS at 80K and 6 years in service. The second one was seeping at 11 years and 47K. So 17 years and 101K isn't bad. That said, your advice about flushing fluid regularly is very good... especially trying to hold on to the ABS actuator as long as possible. Even a rebuild is expensive vs. fluid cost!

Heath

Thanks Heath.

Thanks Brian.

I was considering changing my brake lines. IIRC stainless steel lines would be a good replacement?

[maxnix]

Heath knows a good supplier, and there is TR.

Be sure the braids are sealed or small stones will work their way in over time and deteriorate the rubber brake hose. New hoses may be your best precautionary investment, even OEM.

[Q45tech]

I've replaced every single component in my braking system except the vacuum booster and interior pedal assembly and ABS computer.I rebuilt caliper [cleaned bores and new orings] once before replacing them with lower mile units.

Calipers get hot and eventually bend outwards a tiny amount.ABS was replaced under extended warranty around 80k 1995ABS tone wheel and sensors were first cleaned then eventually replaced.

I've learned a lot about using used parts and buying time vs using brand new and buying LOTS of time.Hundreds of hours wasted with finding, cleaning, and installing used parts

[lino]

Glad to hear that you resolved that problem quickly. Did your brake fluid leak anywhere and eat the paint? Have you looked around to see where the fluid may have dripped?
Modified by lino at 2:49 PM 3/18/2009

[Haitian_King]

Glad to hear that you resolved that problem quickly. Did your brake fluid leak anywhere and eat the paint? Have you looked around to see where the fluid may have dripped?

From what I saw, the fluid leaked right onto the ground. There was a large-ish puddle under the car that looked like it originated from the middle of the front end and stretched to the right.

I took pictures of the puddle. I'll try to get them up.

I haven't inspected the paint yet and the shop didn't say anything about other damage. If it did attack the paint, I'm scheduled to have my paint corrected and exterior restored next month.

[Infinitiguy19]

I am almost sure it got to the frame rail right under it, I would put some rubber coating on top of the paint.